Department of Transportation

LIHUE – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) informs the public that the weight restriction placed on the Mayor Bryan Baptiste Memorial Bridge (Cane Haul Bridge) has been lifted as of April 22, 2020. The bridge has been returned to its unposted weight limit of 40 tons.

The initial weight restriction or “posting” of 20 tons was placed on the bridge out of an abundance of caution following reports from post-flood underwater inspections. These reports indicated there was scour damage on the northern piers of the bridge that posed a concern.

The initial reports calculated the piers’ remaining capacity using base modeling, which led HDOT to put the weight restriction in place on April 21. After further calculations using finite element modeling, HDOT has determined it is safe to remove the weight restriction while emergency repairs are being done.

As a reminder, the Wailua River Bridge mauka of the Mayor Bryan Baptiste Memorial Bridge is currently closed and southbound traffic is contraflowed on the Mayor Bryan Baptiste Memorial Bridge 24-hours a day, seven days a week until further notice.

Repair designs for the mauka Wailua River Bridge have not been finalized.

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