Residents should anticipate increased traffic congestion as construction workers begin laying a column in July that will support the elevated rail line as it crosses over the H-1/H-2 freeway merge between Waipahu and Pearl City, according to a press released issued Monday by the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation.

The column will be located in the freeway medians of the H-1 Waiawa Interchange. Several more columns need to be erected along the line before guideway construction can begin between Leeward Community College and Pearl Highlands train stations this fall.

Beginning Monday night until Wednesday, July 2, one southbound lane of the H-2 freeway near the Waiawa Interchange will be closed from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.

The first half of the rail line, stretching from East Kapolei to Aloha Stadium, is scheduled to open in 2017.

Column work along the Waiawa Interchange of the H-1 and H-2 freeways.