Department of Transportation

LIHUE – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (DOT) celebrated the completion of the second segment of the Kaumualii Highway Improvements Project, Phase I, which includes the new Lihue Mill Bridge structure, in a dedication ceremony earlier today.

The new Lihue Mill Bridge structure will accommodate two lanes of westbound traffic from Downtown Lihue to the Kukui Grove shopping district. This new structure was built adjacent to the original two-lane Lihue Mill Bridge, which will continue to be used for eastbound traffic only. Total cost for this segment was approximately $43.5 million, approximately 90-percent of which was provided by federal funding.

“The new bridge will provide a free-flowing route for residents and visitors,” said HDOT Director Ford Fuchigami. “With two westbound lanes of traffic, the new bridge removes a former bottleneck and will improve traffic flow through this busy area.”

The first segment of the Kaumualii Highway Widening project was completed in Sept. 2012, adding an extra travel lane in each direction from Anonui Road to the Lihue Mill Bridge. The second segment began shortly after, continuing east to Rice Street.

HDOT thanks Kauai motorists for their patience and kokua during the construction.