HANALEI — A cultural gathering was held Wednesday near the Waioli Stream bridge in Hanalei.
The gathering was jointly organized by the state Department of Transportation, Hanalei Roads Committee and Native Hawaiian organization Hui Ho‘omalu I Ka Aina to celebrate the rich history of the Waioli, Waipa and Waikoko stream bridges.
The Waioli, Waipa and Waikoko stream bridges, often referred to locally as “the 3 Ws,” are concrete bridges built as part of the Kauai Belt Road system in 1912 (Waioli and Waipa) and 1913 (Waikoko).
The DOT plans to rehabilitate Waioli Stream bridge and replace the Waipa and Waikoko bridges. The bridges are ranked at number three (Waikoko), number four (Waipa) and number 26 (Waioli) on the DOT’s priority list for bridges in need of upgrade or repair.
Repair of the bridges is necessary to bring in heavy materials for the Kuhio Highway emergency repairs, such as the two-ton boulders needed to complete the revetment walls designed to prevent future slope failure at the roadway stabilization areas at mile points 4.5, 6.2 and 6.3.
Design of the revetment walls has been completed with the exception of the foot-of-slope installation.
The initial target for completion of work and reopening of Kuhio Highway between Waikoko and Wainiha was late 2018. After accounting for weather-related delays and consideration of environmental and community concerns, the DOT is now targeting early 2019 for reopening of the road.
Road closures, including weekend closures with ferry access, may be scheduled after the early 2019 timeframe. The estimated completion date for the bridge work on the bridges is spring. Advance notice of road closures will be given.
Total cost for the Kuhio Highway emergency repairs from the historic April flood is estimated at $77.2 million. Approximately 90 percent of the repair cost will be covered through the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief program, which assists states with repair and/or reconstruction costs from extraordinary damage due to natural disasters.
About $13.1 million of the $16.4 million required to repair the bridges will be covered by federal funds.
