Gov. Linda Lingle released $4,190,000 yesterday for improvement projects at Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor, including the replacement of docks B, C and D; transient docks; and the row 700 and row 500 docks, as well as land infrastructure upgrades.

These projects follow the recent replacement of dock F, for which Lingle released $1,650,000. The major repairs are designed to increase use and improve safety at the state's largest recreational harbor, which has a total of 747 slips and a long waiting list of boaters requesting berth space.

A news release from Lingle's office said the the money will be used as follows:

Docks B, C and D: $3.5 million will be used to replace docks B, C and D, all of which were built more than 35 years ago; 80 of the 172 slips have been taken out of service due to safety concerns. Design work is scheduled to be completed in March and was funded by a previous allotment of $200,000. Construction is scheduled to begin in September and be completed in March 2009. Current slip holders will be temporarily accommodated at other slips during construction, which will start with dock B.

Transient Docks: $100,000 is allocated to match $300,000 in federal funds for the replacement of the harbor's transient docks, which serve boaters visiting the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor. The design phase has already received state and federal funding totaling $100,000, and is scheduled to begin in June and be completed in December. Construction is scheduled to begin in July 2009 and be completed in June 2010.

Row 700 Docks: $140,000 will be used to design replacements for the row 700 docks that have been taken out of service due to safety concerns. Design is scheduled to begin in July and be completed in January 2009. Lingle included an additional $2.5 million for this construction in the Administration's Supplemental Budget for Fiscal Year 2009, which is pending approval by the Legislature. Construction is scheduled to begin in August 2009 and be completed in July 2010.

Row 500 Docks: Built in 1957 and last repaired in 1986, row 500 has 27 finger piers, of which two are out of service. Lingle's release of $250,000 will cover the design phase for replacing the docks. Design is scheduled to begin in August 2008 and be completed in July 2009. Construction is scheduled to begin in February 2010 and be completed in February 2011.

Land Infrastructure Improvements: $200,000 will be used to design upgrades to the harbor's land infrastructure, including water, sewer and electrical utilities that are in poor condition. Project design is scheduled to begin in August and be completed in July 2009. Construction is scheduled to begin in February 2010 and be completed in February 2011.

Lingle has included a total of $10 million in the Administration's Supplemental Budget for Fiscal Year 2009 for the repair of small boat harbors statewide.