Department of Transportation

HONOLULU – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) provides the following update on the ongoing work on Kuhio Highway on Kauai; Pali Highway on Oahu; and, Honoapiilani Highway on Maui.

Kuhio Highway

The Kuhio Highway emergency repairs continue on target for substantial completion in April 2019.

Night work on Waipa Bridge is ongoing through March 7 but has been scheduled not to affect the limited local access convoy into Wainiha. More information on the Waipa Bridge work schedule can be found at https://hidot.hawaii.gov/blog/2019/02/14/closures-of-kuhio-highway-route-560-at-waipa-bridge-and-hanalei-hill-scheduled-to-begin-in-february-2019/

Repairs to the 3 W bridges (Waikoko, Waipa, Waioli) are important to the overall emergency repairs as these bridges are necessary to bring heavy machinery and supplies into the slope stabilization work zones as well as the 2-ton boulders to be used for slope revetments at the foot of the road washout areas at Waikoko and Lumahai.

The bridge repairs are expected to be complete in May. Any remaining work on the bridges after the substantial completion of the slope stabilization will be conducted with traffic control such as alternating lane closures or night closures.

The public can sign up for weekly updates on the emergency repairs here.

Pali Highway

The Honolulu bound morning contraflow and evening access for Kailua/Kaneohe bound traffic will continue on the Monday through Friday schedule as HDOT continues to work on emergency repairs and extended access hours.

Pali Highway Honolulu bound AM Contraflow – Two lanes available town bound from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. (Note: Kailua/Kaneohe bound lanes are not available during the morning commute as the town bound traffic is running through them.) A map explaining the switchovers is available at https://hidot.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Nuuanu-Pali-Map-2019.jpg

Kailua/Kaneohe bound lanes open for evening commute – Both lanes of the Kailua/Kaneohe bound Pali Highway are open between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Motorists are asked to use caution through the Pali Tunnels as damage to the conduits from the rockslide and the broken off portion of Old Pali Road necessitated electricity to the tunnel lights be turned off. Electronic message signs to alert motorists that lights are out in the tunnels have been posted at the Pali lookout on the Honolulu bound side and at the runaway truck ramp on the Windward side.

To improve visibility on Pali Highway as the electrical repairs are ongoing, HDOT crews have replaced reflectors and striped edge lines within the tunnels. Additional reflector replacements have been planned on the road to the hairpin turn.

The tunnel light system cannot be powered by available generators. It is estimated that power will be restored to the Pali tunnels on or before March 8.

Design of slope stabilization measures above Pali Highway is ongoing. An early conceptual image can be found here.

Honoapiilani Highway

Following the rockfalls on Friday, Feb. 22 and Saturday, Feb. 23 on Honoapiilani Highway past Kapalua, HDOT and a rockfall consultant surveyed the area and discovered 10 areas with material loosed by heavy rains.

In response HDOT began emergency work to remove the loose boulders and rocks from the slopes adjacent to the highway. This work began on Feb. 26 and is expected to continue, daily, Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. During work hours Honoapiilani Highway between Fleming Beach and Kahekili Highway at Camp Maluhia is limited to local traffic and emergency responders.

Area motorists and first responders on Honoapiilani Highway/Kahekili Highway may experience delays as crews conduct intermittent closures during the rock scaling. The rock scaling is expected to be completed by the end of March.

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