Several Kailua residents say the city failed to fully restore Kalaheo Avenue to its original condition after a seven-year sewer project and are asking that officials revisit the project to improve safety in the busy beachside corridor.

The city's failure to fully repave the street's shoulder on both sides of the street following the sewer work has created a dangerously uneven surface for bike riders and pedestrians, said Corrinne Waterhouse, a Kailua resident who is spearheading the effort.

Waterhouse and others met this week with Neighborhood Board members, representatives of elected officials and others to ask that the shoulder be restored to the condition it was in before construction began.

"The paving over of the old shoulder in certain areas is only partially done and very inconsistent. That makes it very dangerous to ride a bicycle on the street, which was designated a bicycle route before construction began," Waterhouse said.

State Sen. Fred Hemmings, who attended the meeting, said the issue goes beyond bicyclists. "It gets to the whole ambiance and safety of neighborhoods in Kailua and our very quality of life," he said.

Eugene Lee, the city's director of design and construction, did not return several Advertiser calls about the meeting but said in an earlier letter to the editor on the subject that there was no room to install a new bike lane on Kalaheo Avenue.

"That's a separate issue," said Neighborhood Board Chairwoman Kathy Bryant-Hunter. "The city promised residents that everything would be returned to its original condition following the work, and they have to live up to that. We have to show them all the spots where they didn't do that."

In the letter, Lee also said the city had depressions along Kalaheo Avenue filled in to make a more level surface for all users but reminded bicycle riders that there's a wider designated bike lane on the next street over, Kainalu Avenue.

"Riding on Kalaheo Avenue is a matter of choice," he said.

A casual inspection of Kalaheo Avenue this week showed the mauka-side shoulder of the roadway varying from a few inches to several feet. There were numerous places where old pavement extended more than a foot beyond the top layer.

"I ride my bike down there sometimes and I'm afraid I'm going to fall," Waterhouse said.

Kristi Schulenberg, executive director of the Hawaii Bicycling League, told residents that they should consider pushing for a full bike lane as the city begins soon to work on a new bicycling master plan for O'ahu, but warned that process could take a long time.

Bryant said that in order to make room for a bike lane, the city probably would have to eliminate the makai-side walkway.

She said the Neighborhood Board will try to find out if residents favor that option.

Reach Mike Leidemann at mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.