Department of Transportation

LIHUE – Project timelines and estimated costs for emergency repairs to Kuhio Highway from the April 2018 flooding will be reassessed following the recent flooding due to remnants of Tropical Cyclone Lane. The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) estimated the repairs would be completed in October at a cost of $80 million.

Flooding August 27 and 28 inundated Kuhio Highway at Hanalei Bridge and between the Waikoko and Wainiha checkpoints. Saturation from the heavy rains also compromised the slope at mile marker 1.0 leading up to the Hanalei Bridge, resulting in a rockfall and fallen tree. HDOT is performing rock scaling on this slope today to prevent additional material loosened by the rains from falling onto the roadway.

A full list of additional work and estimated costs will be added to the existing Kuhio Highway Emergency Repairs project website at https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/2018-kuhio-highway-emergency-repairs/ once in-depth assessments have been completed. Currently, we are estimating setbacks due to the flooding will bring the completion date of the project to the end of the year.

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