After 10 years, Koloa bypass drags on
The wooden bridge near the Koloa Road end of Oma’o Road is scheduled to be replaced this year by Kaua’i County, and some area residents have concerns about having to take the long way around the construction site to get to Koloa and Po’ipu.
The Koloa Community Association has set a public meeting about the bridge plan for Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Koloa Neighborhood Center.
The bridge is nearly 50 years old, its safety is “borderline, and it’s deteriorating rapidly,” said Russell Sugano, chief of operations with the county Department of Public Works.
The bridge is also borderline historic, so has been archived with black-and-white photographs before it is replaced, probably this year, by a new, concrete structure, Sugano added.
The county hopes to start work on the $800,000 project this summer, with the work expected to take between four and six months once it’s begun, he said. The resulting new structure will look much like the concrete bridge completed last year at the intersection of Ho’onani and Lawa’i roads over Waikomo Stream.
The Koloa Community Association hopes for a good turnout at tomorrow’s meeting. Association president Rick Haviland said he wants to hear from people who are concerned about the potential half-year detour. Also invited to speak up are those who would like to see the existing bridge retained, who prefer a new bridge, and who don’t particularly care what happens.
Haviland said he hopes the public will let the county know its feelings and that the county will act according to the wishes of the people.
At this point, Haviland said he is not sure what the community wants in terms of the bridge project.
His business, Outfitters Kaua’i, is on Po’ipu Road, and his home is on Oma’o Road, so bridge construction will mean he’ll have to drive several miles and minutes to get around the construction to and from work.
Certain south shore-area residents also want to hear from county officials on the long-range plans for Oma’o Road – specifically, whether it is intended to remain a residential roadway, or if it will become a major thoroughfare for traffic in and out of Koloa and Po’ipu as the area expands with Alexander & Baldwin’s massive residential and resort development along the Kukui’ula shoreline.
Facilitator Marilyn Wong, a trained mediator, will run tomorrow’s meeting, at the association’s request, said Haviland, to encourage a positive outcome from the meeting.
Sugano will be on hand to provide information and answer questions about the bridge proposal. He’ll also have design and construction plans available for review and comment.
Staff Writer Paul C. Curtis can be reached at mailto:pcurtis@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 224).
