Hawaii Route 197

Hawaii Route 197 currently is a 1.2 mile partially complete state highway located on the Big Island near Kona International Airport. The corridor as presently constructed originates at Hawaii Route 19 and follows Kealakehe Parkway east to a dead-end at Keanalehu Drive. The corridor of Hawaii Route 197 has a proposed extension which would terminate 1.9 miles to the east at Hawaii Route 190 and connect with the great Mamalahoa Highway.

Part 1; the history of Hawaii Route 197

The planned corridor of Hawaii Route 197 (Kealakehe Parkway) is 3.1 miles in scale and would connect Hawaii Route 19 (Queen Kaahumanu Highway) near Kona International Airport east to Hawaii Route 190 (Mamalahoa Highway). The intent of the corridor is to replace the functionally obsolete Palani Drive (Hawaii Route 190) as the primary connector to Mamalahoa Highway.

The adoption of Hawaii Route 197 into the state highway system is not fully clear, but likely came during the 1980s. The highway appears complete from Hawaii Route 19 east to Keanalehu Drive (approximately 1.2-miles) on the 1998 United States Geological Survey map (courtesy historicaerials.com).

The remaining unconstructed portion of Hawaii Route 197 from Keanalehu Drive east to Hawaii Route 190/Mamalahoa Highway on the current Hawaii Department of Transportation log for the Big Island. The corridor is planned to tie into Mamalahoa Highway south the junction of Hawaii Route 190 and Hawaii County Route 180. The status of the unconstructed portion of Hawaii Route 197 is unclear as it remained unaltered on the 2012 state of Hawaii Federal-Aid System logs.

Part 2; a drive on Hawaii Route 197

Hawaii Route 197 eastbound begins at the intersection of Hawaii Route 19 at Kealakehe Parkway. There are no reassurance shields altering traffic to the presence of Hawaii Route 197.

Hawaii Route 197 ascends eastbound to a dead-end at Keanalehu Drive. The corridor has no Hawaii Route 197 signage or mile markers. Overhead the peak of Hualalai can be seen looking in the distance.

Comments

Former US Route 50 and the Pioneer Route Lincoln Highway on Johnson's Pass Road

Johnson's Pass Road is one of the oldest highway corridors in California. Johnson's Pass was part of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road as it was completed during 1856 over the Sierra Nevada. The pass would later be incorporated into the Pioneer Branch of the Lincoln Highway in 1913 and US Route 50 in 1926. Johnson's Pass Road would be bypassed by a new alignment of US Route 50 over Echo Summit in 1938. A replacement of the Meyers Grade east of Johnson's Pass would be opened to traffic in 1947. Johnson's Pass Road remains accessible to traffic and is still signed by the Lincoln Highway Association. Pictured as the blog cover is the view from the top of Johnson's Pass Road overlooking modern US Route 50 and Lake Tahoe. Part 1; the history of Johnson's Pass Much of the history of what become the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road is discussed in the September 1950 California Highways & Public Works during its Centennial Edition. The or...

Former US Route 50 and the South Lincoln Highway from Folsom east to Placerville

The corridor of Folsom of Sacramento County east to Placerville of El Dorado County has been a long established corridor of overland travel dating back to the California Gold Rush. The Folsom-Placerville corridor was once part of the path of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road which became the first California State Highway and later the South Lincoln Highway. In time the South Lincoln Highway's surface alignment was inherited by US Route 50. The Folsom-Placerville corridor also includes the communities of; Clarksville, Shingle Springs and El Dorado. Part 1; the history of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road, South Lincoln Highway and US Route 50 through Folsom-Placerville Folsom is located on the American River/Lake Natoma of eastern Sacramento County. That lands now occupied by the City of Folsom were part of Rancho Rio de los Americanos prior to the finding of gold at Sutter's Mill during 1848. During the California Gold Rush the lands of Rancho Rio de los Americanos were p...

Old NC 10 - The Central Highway: Old Fort to Black Mountain through the Royal Gorge

A unique way of tracing the remnants of the Central Highway is through the mountainous terrain of Eastern Buncombe and Western McDowell Counties. From the east on US 70, you reach the base of Blue Ridge Mountains at the town of Old Fort. Old Fort is a tiny rail town that the old Central Highway and now US 70 goes through. The Central Highway can be followed via a right onto Mill Creek Road from US 70. Follow the highway as it takes you closer to the mountains. When Mill Creek Road bears right to head towards Andrews Geyser stay straight until the road ends at a gate. The nearby Piney Grove Church can be used for parking. At this point, the old Central Highway began a 3.5 mile climb of the mountain to Swannanoa Gap. NC 10 and later US 70 travelers followed this road for over 30 years until a new and modern four lane US 70 was built to the south. This same four lane road would eventually become Interstate 40. The Centra...