Gov. Linda Lingle has released $201,000 in planning, design and land acquisition funds to help widen Kuhio Highway at the Wailua River Cane Haul Bridge, from Kuamo'o Road to the existing cane haul road.

The bridge will be widened to two lanes in the northbound direction. The bridge widening will be performed in coordination with a project to widen Kuhio Highway from the southern end of the Kapa'a Bypass Road to Kuamo'o Road. Once completed, the two projects will provide four lanes from the Bypass Road to just south of the bridge.

The yearlong construction job is scheduled to begin in March.