Department of Transportation

HILO – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) continues working with the State Department of Health and Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation to address lead contaminated soil beneath Kolekole Bridge and Hakalau Stream Bridge. These efforts include preparation of Kolekole Gulch Park for potential reopening to the public.

As outlined in the September 2019 update, HDOT conferred with the County of Hawaii Department of Parks and Recreation on remedial options for Kolekole Gulch Park. Through these discussions a plan to incorporate the soil removal work into a current renovation project at Kolekole Park has been proposed. Merging these projects will minimize park closure for construction and effectively utilize taxpayer monies.

HDOT has conducted additional sampling for the soil beneath Hakalau Bridge and will continue to work with the Department of Health, County of Hawaii, and nearby private landowners on selection of a remedial action plan. Currently, we are estimating the additional sampling, plan approval, and work to implement the plan will be completed in late 2020/early 2021.

HDOT thanks the community for their patience during the ongoing lead remediation efforts. Previous news releases on the remediations at Kolekole and Hakalau Bridges can be found at:

https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/update-on-lead-remediation-beneath-kolekole-hakalau-bridges/

https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/area-beneath-two-hawaii-bridges-being-tested-for-lead-contamination/

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