This week crews will begin installing long-awaited concrete barrier blocks between the Wai'anae- and Honolulu-bound lanes of Farrington Highway along the mile-long curve at Ma'ili Point.

Since 2002, the stretch between Hakimo and Kaukama roads has seen more than two dozen major accidents. Over the years, it has been the scene of many fatal and other serious head-on collisions.

Barriers separating the Wai'anae- and the Honolulu-bound lanes could serve to reduce the threat of such accidents, state Department of Transportation officials said.

Weather permitting, workers will begin installing 1,400 concrete blocks along the highway median tomorrow, said DOT officials. One lane of the highway will be closed in each direction during barrier work, which should be complete in about two weeks.

The $8 million improvement project, which officially began Aug. 26, 2004, called for restriping lanes and crosswalks, improving sidewalks in a larger area and adding more lighting. The key component was the barrier blocks.

Transportation officials said the state decided to use the same concrete fixtures as those of the H-1 Zipper Lane because they are more flexible than conventional barriers.