Kaua‘i motorists: Get ready for some traffic. Starting on Monday, the state Department of Transportation will kick off a project to repair the Kainahola Stream Bridge on the temporary Kapa‘a bypass road. The work will begin with lane closures on
Kaua‘i motorists: Get ready for some traffic.
Starting on Monday, the state Department of Transportation will kick off a project to repair the Kainahola Stream Bridge on the temporary Kapa‘a bypass road.
The work will begin with lane closures on the bypass, followed by a three-week long complete closure from the south entrance at Kuhio Highway to the Lihu‘e-side of the Kapa‘a roundabout, a DOT press release states. That begins April 25.
“There’s going to be a lot more cars on the road because the bypass road is going to be closed,” said DOT spokesman Dan Meisenzahl, adding that the department is taking the opportunity to repave the bypass road, cut back trees and complete other regular maintenance. “The whole road is really going to get a once over.”
The work will likely extend into mid-May, although DOT officials hope to complete it before then.
The 30-foot bridge appeared on DOT’s construction radar about six months ago, Meisenzahl said, when bridge inspectors conducted a biennial inspection. He said federal law requires bridges be checked every two years. They realized that the Kainahola Stream Bridge’s soil foundation is settling and has created a dip in the roadway that could eventually pose a safety hazard to drivers.
“Our No. 1 concern is safety,” Meisenzahl said. “If this bridge continues to sink, you could hit a dip and lose control of your vehicle. “The greater the dip in the road, the greater the danger.”
To repair the bridge, DOT officials plan to place a new concrete slab over the bridge surface to create smooth road transitions, the press release states.
The closure schedule is:
∫ 5 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, starting April 11, the northbound lane of the Kapa‘a temporary bypass will be closed. The southbound lane, heading toward Lihu‘e, will remain open during these hours.
∫ Starting at 5 a.m. on April 25, the bypass will be completely closed to traffic for three weeks from the south entrance near Wailua to the Kapa‘a roundabout.
While the repair work will definitely impact traffic, Meisenzahl said using a contraflow would have made work last nearly three months and could have still lengthened drive times.
“To close it for three weeks made the most sense,” he said.
To reduce traffic impacts, transportation officials met with the Kaua‘i Police Department to come up with a plan. Meisenzahl said it’s more than a week from completion but possible measures could include extending the Kuhio Highway contraflow; restricting left turns on the highway; extending right-hand turn lanes or re-routing traffic in some areas. The mayor will also get a look at the plan before it’s approved, Meisenzahl added.
Kaua‘i Capt. Michael Contrades said he hopes suggestions from police will help ease the traffic flow.
“Most importantly, we ask that the public drive with caution during this time of added congestion,” Contrades said. “Give yourself the extra time you need to get to your destination safely.”
