Question: Would you please find out whether the Board of Water Supply (and its contractor, Nan Inc.) ever plans to finish the water main project it’s doing between King Intermediate School and Heeia Kea Small Boat Harbor? It’s been over two years now, and over the past several months they seem to have stopped working on the project entirely. When are they going to finish it? When is the contractor going to fix all the potholes their work created? The temporary paving over their trench is some of the worst I’ve ever seen. Why is BWS allowing this? Does it plan to repave Kamehameha Highway after it’s done?

Answer: Your questions are representative of more than a half-dozen queries Kokua Line has received from different readers over the past several weeks about this project, all expressing similar sentiments. One reader described the road as a bumpy patchwork of potholes and metal plates. After a long period of inactivity, another reader mistakenly assumed that the work was finished and wondered when the asphalt would be repaired.

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply systematically upgrades underground water infrastructure to ensure the reliability of Oahu’s water supply. The Kamehameha Highway (Heeia) Water System Improvement Project is replacing about 12,000 feet of water main on Kamehameha Highway in Kaneohe, from Heeia Boat Harbor to Heeia Street.

The project began in November 2013 and originally was to finish in winter 2014; the expected completion date now stands at January, barring further unforeseen circumstances.

“The BWS apologizes to the community for the project delays and appreciates their continued patience,” said information officer Shawn Nakamoto, who explained the source of the delays and also specified what remains to be done.

“As work progressed, the contractor, Nan Inc., found other underground utilities in the area where the new water mains were to be installed, so the mains had to be realigned,” she said.

The project was originally designed using “as-built” drawings for the existing underground utilities, some of which dated from the 1940s and 1960s, she said. When actual conditions differed from the plans, BWS and the contractor had to redesign part of the project, delaying the work. Additionally, revisions were made to project specifications for a gate and fence installation.

As of Thursday “the contractor has completed installing, testing, disinfecting and connecting all 16-inch and 8-inch water mains. Before this project can be completed, the contractor still needs to cut off water supply to the old 30-inch main; remove old hydrants, manholes and manhole covers, valve boxes and frames; complete some work on the bridge crossing; and repave the trench,” she said.

Final paving involves only the trenched area and not the whole width of the road, she said.

“We are working with our contractor to have them finish the outstanding items by January 2016, the revised completion date for this project, though this is very dependent on weather conditions.”

Meanwhile the BWS will monitor road conditions and ask the contractor to address problems caused by construction. Anyone who has questions or concerns about this project should call the BWS Capital Projects Construction Section at 748-5730.

Q: How do I find out my bulky-pickup schedule?

A: The city Department of Environmental Services makes it easy to find this information online. Go to bit.ly/1HflR9Y, type in your address, hit search and click on the record that appears. You’ll see your curbside refuse, bulky-item and recycling collection schedules, plus the locations of the nearest drop-off convenience centers and links to other relevant information about disposal and recycling on Oahu.

If you cannot check online, call the department at 768-3200.

Residents of military housing should check with their base property managers, according to the website.

Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.