A new freeway lane from the Red Hill area to Aiea is expected to open in a few months in an effort to ease westbound traffic congestion.

The lane will stretch about two miles from the Halawa Interchange on Moanalua Freeway to the Aiea pedestrian overpass on the H-1 freeway and will remain open at all times, according to the state Department of Transportation.

Crews are to begin work Monday to re-stripe the area to make way for the lane, and are slated to finish in mid-August. Work will be scheduled at night. The DOT has placed electronic message boards in the area to alert drivers of lane closures.

The project will cost about $4 million and include asphalt concrete paving of a 1.5-mile stretch from the Aloha Stadium/Aiea offramp to the Aiea Heights Drive overpass, according to the DOT.

“The lack of available highway funds was a major push for us to find better ways to relieve traffic congestion faster and cheaper statewide,” Ed Sniffen, who heads DOT’s Highways Division, said in a statement. “Even though limited funding makes it necessary for us to focus on maintaining our existing roads and bridges, we will continue to look for opportunities to implement cost-effective projects that result in immediate time savings for everyday commuters.”

Other efforts by the DOT to ease westbound congestion in the area included opening a new lane on H-1 from Waimalu to Waipahu in October 2015.

About two years ago the department also opened the westbound shoulder lane on H-1 from the Aiea Heights Drive overpass to the Waimalu/Pearl City offramp from 3:30 to 6 p.m. on weekdays.

Last year the DOT extended the shoulder lane’s hours. It now is open 3-7 p.m.

State Rep. Sam Kong said he hopes the new lane will ease congestion, adding that traffic in the area can start to build up at about 2:30 p.m.

“Any additional lanes I look forward to,” said Kong (D, Halawa-Aiea-Newtown), who is also a taxi driver.

For information on lane closures, visit hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/roadwork/oahu.