Department of Transportation

LIHUE – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) advises Kauai motorists that traffic will be directed to use the temporary bypass bridge on Kaumualii Highway (Route 50) beginning Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019, to allow for construction of the Hanapepe River Bridge.

The temporary bridge on Kaumualii Highway is mauka of the existing bridge, between Iona Road and Puolo Road, and consists of two 10-foot wide lanes. Motorists are asked to use caution over the two-lane temporary bridge and to follow the reduced speed limit of 25 mph. Pedestrians and bicyclists will be directed to the county bridge on Hanapepe Road. Residents on Iona Road will be directed to Pepe Road, Kuiloa Road, and Kona Road to access the temporary bridge towards Waimea. Access to Iona Road heading towards Kalaheo must also use a detour via Pepe Road or neighboring streets as stopping on Kaumualii Highway is not recommended.

The Hanapepe River Bridge project is part of HDOT’s partnership with the Central Federal Lands Highway Division of the Federal Highway Administration, to deliver 11 bridge projects statewide. The cost of the Hanapepe River Bridge project is $35.2 million, 80 percent of which is provided by Federal funding and 20 percent from State funding.

The Hanapepe River Bridge project will replace the permanent bridge structure on Kaumualii Highway to improve its safety and reliability by addressing the bridge’s width, load capacity, bridge railing and transitions, and bridge approaches. Work is anticipated to be completed by summer 2020, weather permitting.

For more information on the Hanapepe River Bridge project or the additional bridge and highway improvement projects being delivered through the Federal and State partnership, please click here.

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