Department of Transportation

LĪHUʻE – The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT) informs Kauaʻi residents that pavement reconstruction and resurfacing work of Kūhiō Highway (Route 56) between Keālia Road and the Donkey Beach parking lot will switch to daytime closures beginning Monday, Oct. 9.    

A single lane closure on Kūhiō Highway (Route 56) in the northbound direction, beginning Monday, Oct. 9 through Friday, Oct. 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. is needed to address safety concerns. Crews will pave over the milled surface of the northbound lane during the closure. The paving was originally scheduled for nightwork, but the project has been shifted to daytime work in regard to Shearwater fledgling season which started Sept. 15.  

Artificial lights can affect young seabirds leaving their nests for the first time, causing them to fly into structures, become confused or exhausted, leaving them grounded and vulnerable to predators and vehicles. By shifting this work to daytime hours HDOT is doing its part to minimize impacts to Kauaʻi’s Shearwater population.   

After this week, work will be paused until the end of Shearwater fledgling season, Dec. 15. At that time work on this project will resume as nightwork with an estimated completion date of January 2024, weather–permitting.    

Electronic message boards will be posted to notify motorists of the closure. HDOT advises the public to follow all traffic control signs and allow for extra travel time to get to their destinations.  

Please note all roadwork is weather–permitting. For Kauaʻi weekly road closure information visit: https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/roadwork/kauai/ 

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