Kaua‘i tried to clean up and dry out yesterday after Wednesday’s rain caused flooding and road closures. State Department of Transportation crews worked around the island throughout Wednesday night into yesterday afternoon. Road surface near Waipake on the Kaumuali‘i Highway
Kaua‘i tried to clean up and dry out yesterday after Wednesday’s rain caused flooding and road closures.
State Department of Transportation crews worked around the island throughout Wednesday night into yesterday afternoon. Road surface near Waipake on the Kaumuali‘i Highway was closed briefly so crews could put a temporary patch in place. A more permanent solution will be put in place this morning after rush hour traffic near the 19-mile marker.
Runoff of mud and debris from old sugar cane fields near Hanapepe also had crews busy clearing the highway yesterday.
DOT worked yesterday morning as they cleared the highway near Kalihiwai, where a tree fell Wednesday night, blocking the road. The tree took almost seven hours to cut into pieces small enough to remove from the roadway, Scott Ishikawa, DOT spokesman, said.
Although Wednesday’s rains drenched much of the island, work on the Wainiha Bridge carried on. Kuhio Highway was closed for nearly 14 hours for foundation work in preparation for the replacement bridge.
“We’re trying to set a date looking at the next 24-hour closure,” Ishikawa said.
The next 24-hour closure will be “the biggie,” Ishikawa said, as the new bridge will then be built at the site and put into place.
The 24-hour closure will happen within the next two weeks, but a specific date has yet to be announced.
“We will definitely let people know ahead of time,” Ishikawa said.
• Rachel Gehrlein, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) or rgehrlein@kauaipubco.com.
