WAILUA — The Wailua Cane Haul Bridge opening will be delayed at least a few months, officials said Tuesday. The state Department of Transportation along with their contractor, Unlimited Builders, is progressing with the new two-lane prefabricated Wailua Cane Haul
WAILUA — The Wailua Cane Haul Bridge opening will be delayed at least a few months, officials said Tuesday.
The state Department of Transportation along with their contractor, Unlimited Builders, is progressing with the new two-lane prefabricated Wailua Cane Haul Bridge, according to a news release from Bow Construction Management.
But the painted, galvanized steel Acrow panel bridge that is being launched on top of the substantially reinforced original cane haul bridge piers is now tentatively scheduled to open to the public in mid-February, the release states.
Officials had said earlier this year that they expected the entire project to be completed by this fall.
State officials and representatives for the contractor on Tuesday night said they were not authorized to disclose what the reason is for the delay, but such information would likely be forthcoming later this week.
The old cane haul bridge, which consisted of only one lane of traffic, is being transformed into two northbound lanes and also a pedestrian footpath, which has been relocated from alongside the beach to the state’s right of way adjacent to Kuhio Highway.
Once the cane haul bridge is completed, the Wailua Bridge, which is part of Kuhio Highway, will become two southbound lanes. The bridge complex was renamed the Bryan J. Baptiste Memorial Bridge in honor of the late former mayor who died suddenly in June 2008.
Remaining construction in the area is anticipated to continue through June for completion of retaining walls to allow for the walkway on the new bridge to connect to the ground surface along Kuhio Highway, including a pedestrian path that will end near the traffic signal at the intersection of the highway and Kuamo‘o Road, the release states. Foundation work along the makai side of the bridge will begin in early October.
New asphalt and new traffic sensors at Kuamo‘o Road will be installed, and the traffic signal on the mauka side of the highway at Kuamo‘o Road will be relocated.
Contraflow will continue through the duration of the project; no night work will take place during shearwater season from now through mid-December, the release states.
The project is expected to cost some $25 million. Federal highway funds are covering 80 percent of the cost with state funds covering the remaining 20 percent.
