Department of Transportation

LIHUE – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) continues to work to stabilize and clear debris on Kuhio Highway (Route 560) on the North Shore of Kauai following the April 14, 2018 flood event. Kuhio Highway from Waikoko to Wainiha has been closed since the flooding due to over a dozen landslides.

Seven construction crews made up of HDOT personnel and contractors continue to work on clearing debris, stabilizing the road base and assessing the slope faces exposed by the landslides.

HDOT is on track to open an emergency access route to Wainiha and Haena on Saturday, April 28, 2018. This one lane route would be used exclusively for emergency responders and coordinated disaster recovery operations. After the single lane for emergency access is cleared, there will be a 5,000-pound weight restriction placed on the route.

Access for the North Shore community to the single lane is now expected on or before May 7, 2018. Speed and weight restrictions to ensure safety will be put in place with details to come. After the final repairs, the restrictions will be lifted and access restored to North Shore residents.

The installation of temporary bridges adjacent to the Waioli, Waipa, and Waikoko Bridges (the three Ws) will allow HDOT to bring in material for the final repairs to the two areas on Kuhio Highway structurally affected by landslides below the highway. The design for installation of the temporary Acrow bridges at these sites was almost complete prior to the April flood as the temporary bridges were planned to facilitate future work on the Wainiha Bridges. The Acrow bridges have been ordered and are expected to arrive within two to three weeks. Installation of the bridges following the arrival is expected to take another two to three weeks.

Emergency work to restore access to Kuhio Highway is funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Emergency Relief Program.

“FHWA Hawaii Division Administrator Ralph Rizzo and his staff have been invaluable in providing support and guidance as we seek to restore access for North Kauai,” said HDOT Deputy Director for Highways Ed Sniffen. “Our partners have really come through for the people of Hawaii as we work to recover from this record setting flood.”

Structural inspections of all state bridges in flood affected areas, except for Wailua River Bridge, were completed Friday, April 20, 2018. No structural issues were found on any of the inspected bridges. An inspection of Wailua River Bridge will be performed when inspectors are able to view the pier structures in Wailua River. HDOT crews are currently clearing debris in the river at the mauka Wailua River Bridge.

HDOT would like to thank the County of Kauai, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Kamehameha Schools, FHWA, and other partners for their continued assistance in the effort to restore access on Kuhio Highway from Waikoko to Wainiha.

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