Department of Transportation

LIHUE – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) and the County of Kauai provides the following update to Kauai motorists on the efforts to stabilize and clear debris on Kuhio Highway (Route 560) on the North Shore of Kauai. HDOT, along with state, county, and federal agencies, has been working since April 14, 2018 to reopen Kuhio Highway from Waikoko to Wainiha.

Based on field assessments and the progress of current work HDOT expects to open a one lane route to Wainiha and Haena on or before Monday, May 7, 2018, weather permitting. Given the conditions in the area, travel along this route will be limited to emergency access until further notice.

“I’m grateful to our team working to reestablish access to these communities in the Hanalei District,” said Gov. David Ige. “The state will continue to partner with and support Kauai County in their recovery efforts and hope to see these devastated areas make a full recovery with the reassurance that we’re doing everything we can to ensure Kuhio Highway is safe and passable.”

“Having emergency access allows us to continue to concentrate on relief efforts, while we remain diligent in our plans for a full reopening,” said Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. “We are grateful to our state, its contractors, and our community members for working tirelessly together to bring relief to every family and business that’s been affected.”

HDOT-led crews have been working to clear over a dozen landslides on Kuhio Highway on the North Shore of Kauai and are working to stabilize two sites, one in Waikoko and one immediately east of Wainiha Bridge No. 1. The slopes in this area will be stabilized with an anchor system using soil nails and shotcrete or Teccomesh.

To expedite disaster recovery operations in the area, HDOT is bringing in temporary Acrow bridges to provide increased capacity for the bridges areas at Waioli, Waipa, and Waikoko streams. The temporary Acrow bridges have capacity for 25-ton loads, while the existing bridges are weight restricted to 8 tons.

HDOT will continue to work on stabilizing the road base and assess the slope faces exposed by the landslides. Once the geotechnical assessments and designs are completed a timeline for the full opening of Kuhio Highway from Waikoko to Wainiha will be provided.

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