Department of Transportation

LIHUE – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) provides the following updates on Kuhio Highway (Route 560).

Emergency slope stabilization in Hanalei

Emergency scaling work on Kuhio Highway at Mile Marker 1 (hill leading to Hanalei Bridge) will be completed Tuesday afternoon, May 7. The Lihue bound lane will remain closed overnight and Wednesday, May 8 as HDOT conducts an assessment for additional protection measures in the area. Motorists are asked to avoid non-essential travel in the area and to follow the directions of traffic control personnel. Temporary Rockfall Barrier work will start Tuesday, May 14 through Friday, May 17. Work may continue into the week of May 20. Delays are anticipated as the Lihue bound lane will remain closed to create a temporary catchment area for rocks or soil from the slope. Intermittent traffic control (short stoppages of traffic in both directions) may also occur, but the stoppages will not be as long as the ones required during the rock scaling.

Kuhio Highway Emergency Repairs – Waipa and Waikoko Bridges

The Waikoko checkpoint has been moved to Waipa in order to move the Waipa Bridge into the work zone. Only those with county-issued placards or contractor passes are allowed past the checkpoint. Vehicles without valid placards will be turned around.

Limited local access is available in both directions Monday through Saturday on an unescorted basis between these hours:

5:30 a.m. – 8:20 a.m.

12:45 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

5 p.m. – 11 p.m. (unless bridge night work is scheduled, see calendar below)

Bridge Night Work

• Night work at the Waikoko Bridge will occur Tuesday, May 7 through Thursday, May 9.
• There will be no night work on Friday, May 10 (Kauai Community College graduation), Saturday May 11 and Sunday, May 12 (Mother’s Day).
• Night work at Waipa and Waikoko Bridges will resume Monday, May 13 through Thursday, May 16.
• Work to take place nightly starting at 7:30 p.m. and continuing overnight until 5:30 a.m.
• Parking areas on either side of bridges and pedestrian access will be available for those wanting to cross the bridge during night work hours until 11 p.m. (click here for location of park and ride location West of Waikoko Bridge).
• Parking areas will be secured at all times.
• The bridge will close to all vehicular traffic after 7:30 p.m., so any vehicles traveling on the highway after 7:30 p.m. will not be able to travel over the Waipa Bridge and residents wanting to access the area will need to use the available Park and Ride sites and the pedestrian bridge.
• HDOT is coordinating with Hanalei Colony Resort to provide a shuttle until 11 p.m. for residents between the Park and Ride locations and Wainiha.
• Night work at both Waipa and Waikoko Bridges will resume Tuesday, May 7 and continue through Thursday, May 16. There will be no night closures on Friday, May 10 (Kauai Community College graduation) and Saturday, May 11. There will be no night work Sunday, May 12 (Mother’s Day).

HDOT now anticipates the first of two full weekend bridge closures to take place from 9 p.m. Friday, May 31 through 5 a.m. Monday, June 3. Previously, the first full weekend closure was scheduled for May 17-20. Dates for the second full weekend closure are to be determined. Reminders of the weekend bridge closures will be sent the week of the scheduled closure.

A calendar showing the bridge night work schedule as of May 7 is available at https://hidot.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/May-2019-Night-Work-Calendar.pdf

All work is weather permitting. First responders have been notified and have planned staging and procedures in the event of an emergency requiring them to access the work zones. Arrangements have also been made to ensure the Akita school bus will be able to cross Waipa Bridge at the scheduled time.

The public is still able to sign up for email updates on the Kuhio Highway emergency repairs by clicking here.

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