LIHU‘E — State Department of Transportation officials have been getting lots of telephone calls about the reason for the delay regarding the much-anticipated opening of the Kuhio Highway bridges over the Wailua River, a state DOT spokesperson said Friday. “The
LIHU‘E — State Department of Transportation officials have been getting lots of telephone calls about the reason for the delay regarding the much-anticipated opening of the Kuhio Highway bridges over the Wailua River, a state DOT spokesperson said Friday.
“The delay in the opening of the new Wailua cane haul bridge is mainly due to the realignment of a portion the bike and pedestrian path from its original design and approved location on Wailua Beach to within the Kuhio Highway right of way,” said Tammy Mori, state DOT spokesperson.
“The change in the path’s route is a direct result of the Department of Transportation’s response to concerns of community members, primarily Native Hawaiian organizations, who have asked that construction activity not disturb possible culturally sensitive areas,” she said in an e-mail.
“We are doing all we can to understand and respect the historical and cultural significance of the Wailua area, yet moving forward in the construction of a major artery and promotion of a safe driving, walking and biking experience over the Wailua bridge,” said Mori.
“The redesign of that section of the path required a thorough review of the Department of Transportation’s standards for safe transition from the bridge to the roadway.”
The scheduled opening date for the new bridge is February 2011.
All three lanes of traffic on the existing Wailua bridge continue to flow smoothly, with contra flow lanes set up all weekday mornings except state furlough days and holidays, she said.
