LIHU‘E — Even state Department of Transportation officials acknowledge that the next eight weekdays are going to be trying times for Eastside drivers. The Wailua cane-haul bridge, previously a one-lane northbound portion of Kuhio Highway over the Wailua River, will
LIHU‘E — Even state Department of Transportation officials acknowledge that the next eight weekdays are going to be trying times for Eastside drivers.
The Wailua cane-haul bridge, previously a one-lane northbound portion of Kuhio Highway over the Wailua River, will close at 9 a.m. today until late July or early August, weather-permitting.
The closure is to convert the bridge into a two-lane northbound configuration with a pedestrian walkway.
The next eight weekdays are going to be particularly trying, as the previous three-lane configuration will be reduced to two lanes, over the river, while workers relocate a sewer line, state officials said.
“It’s going to be really bad,” said Tammy Mori, state DOT spokesperson, who was on Kaua‘i Tuesday to brief the media and check out the ongoing construction work firsthand.
Kaua‘i Police Department officers will be on scene the rest of this week to direct traffic, she said. Contra-flow will still be in effect this morning.
The sewer-line work is expected to be completed by Jan. 22, in time for the opening of three lanes of traffic over the river by Jan. 25 — during the morning and afternoon contra-flow rush hours only, Mori said.
“We’re concerned about safety and congestion,” she said.
The sewer contractor will be working day and evening.
All motorists should expect delays and allow more travel time to reach their destinations safely and on time, Mori said.
County and state officials will provide an update on short- and long-term highway safety improvements recently implemented between Hanama‘ulu and Wailua at a public meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Wilcox Elementary School cafeteria in Lihu‘e.
