Department of Transportation

HILO – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) advises the public of a traffic pattern shift on Wailuku Bridge in Hilo. Wailuku Bridge is also known as singing bridge and is located on Hawaii Belt Road (Route 19) between Waianuenue Avenue and Pukihae Street.

Bridge inspection findings from August 2019 show a need for repairs to the bridge. The traffic pattern change will enable HDOT to continue to allow vehicular traffic over the bridge prior to the repairs by directing traffic over the bridge girders (i.e., the steel beams that support the deck).

Crews will restripe and install traffic delineators on the two-lane bridge to create a widened median on the bridge. This work will take place via roving closures Monday, Sept. 9 and Tuesday, Sept. 10. The roving closures will occur between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. During this time, Hilo bound and Honokaa bound traffic will be maintained through alternating traffic control (contraflow) in the remaining travel lane.

Motorists should exercise caution and drive slowly through the area as lanes will be narrowed and drivers become used to the new traffic pattern. An exhibit showing the new lane configuration is available at https://hidot.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/WailukuRiverStripingNoticeExhibit.pdf

Bridge repairs are currently being designed. More information on the repairs will be released as the design is finalized.

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