Department of Transportation

LIHUE – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) informs the public that the emergency closure of the southbound lanes of Kuhio Highway (Route 56) at the Wailua River Bridge (Mile Marker 5.8) will continue 24-hours a day, seven days a week until further notice.

Throughout the emergency closure of the Wailua River Bridge (Mauka Bridge), one lane of traffic on the adjacent Mayor Bryan Baptiste Memorial Bridge (Cane Haul Bridge) will be contraflowed to allow traffic in both directions. Traffic control signs have been installed and flagmen on site to guide vehicles through the contraflow. Motorists are asked to exercise caution on Kuhio Highway between Kuamoo Road and Leho Drive and follow the directions of the flagmen as HDOT installs additional traffic control measures.

The emergency closure followed completion of underwater assessments of the bridge after flooding at the bridge in late March. HDOT is continuing inspections of other bridges considered at risk of scour during flood conditions and is also addressing erosion damage to the concrete reinforced masonry wall near the north abutment of the bridge. Scour countermeasures at the Wailua River Bridge were installed following the April 2018 floods and largely protected the piers on which they were installed.

An update will be provided once repair design is finalized. As a reminder, the southbound Kuhio Highway contraflow leading to the area was suspended on March 25 due to lower traffic volumes during the Statewide Stay-at-Home, Work-at-Home order.

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