LIHU‘E — A single lane is now open on Kuhio Highway by above the Hanalei Bridge, and concrete barriers have been placed along the side of the single emergency-only lane.
This access has been established for critical services only.
The state Department of Transportation is keeping the single lane for emergency access on the highway today. DOT officials will continue to work on a plan to provide public access later this week. Continuous security checkpoints are on both sides of the slide area.
“Latest I have is that the times (for reopening two lanes of the highway) are not settled yet,” DOT public information official Shelly Kunishige said Tuesday.
DOT’s recent work involved installing barriers, a rock fence and a side barrier on the downslope. A GPS system to provide real-time alerts of any slope movement to traffic-control personnel, the Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency and DOT staff was also installed, she said.
Approximately two dozen contractors and DOT employees worked to address the roughly 15,000 cubic yards of debris from the March 9 and 11 landslides.
The county Department of Public Works Solid Waste Division will resume normal household refuse collection services to North Shore residents starting Thursday. This means residents will have refuse collection on Thursday and Friday this week, as normally scheduled.
Residents are asked to place bagged refuse in their carts the night prior. Workers will not be picking up loose waste or bulky waste.
Affected Hanalei to Ha‘ena residents needing to fulfill medical prescriptions may call the North Shore Pharmacy at
828-1844. A pharmacist will be delivering prescriptions to residents at 2 p.m. today at Black Pot Beach Park.
A high-surf advisory is in effect for all east-facing shores of through 6 p.m. today. Strong breaking waves, shore break and strong longshore and rip currents are expected. All weather and ocean advisories may be extended, dropped or modified as conditions develop. For up-to-date information about ocean conditions and ocean safety, speak to a county lifeguard, visit hawaiibeachsafety.com or call the Kaua‘i Fire Department Ocean Safety Bureau at 241-4984.
Other current
road closures
w Kuhio Highway between Kolopua Apartments and Hanalei Plantation Road remains closed out of an abundance of caution. DOT officials have installed systems to monitor any movement in the road;
w One lane of Kuhio Highway at mile marker 4.5 near Waikoko is currently open to alternating traffic.
