KEALIA Recent bridgework just before Kealia Beach along Kuhio Highway is part of the islands overall recovery from storms that flooded large parts of Kauai nearly one year ago.
KEALIA — Recent bridgework just before Kealia Beach along Kuhio Highway is part of the island’s overall recovery from storms that flooded large parts of Kauai nearly one year ago.
Orange fencing and equipment hailed the scour protection project along the Ke Ala Hele Makalae coastal path. The Kapaa Stream Bridge was the target; the flow of the stream had washed out the sand around the bottom of the center pier.
Hawaii Department of Transportation workers filled the area around the center pier with flowable concrete to fix that issue — called bridge scour — and to stabilize the bridge. The total cost for the project was $500,000.
“It’s considered under the Kuhio Highway Emergency Repairs Project,” said HDOT spokeswoman Shelly Kunishige. “Work is complete and they started demobilizing Wednesday.”
Fixing landslides and washouts and replacing bridges and roadways are all on the list for the Kuhio Highway Emergency Repairs Project.
Specifically on the list are the nearly completed reconstruction of the Ke’e State Park parking lot; the Kuhio Highway roadwork and slope stabilization north of Wainiha; bridge replacement for Waikoko and Waipa bridges; and rehabilitation for Wai’oli Bridge.
Debris removal and slope scaling in Kalihiwai is also on the list, as well as scour protection on Wailua Bridge.
Work on the Wailua Bridge has been completed, according to HDOT.
In early March, HDOT reported completion of the night work on Waipa Bridge and the HDOT emergency repairs project “continues to make progress towards its goals of substantially completing the Kuhio Highway road repairs by April 30.”
HDOT officials said repairs to the Wai‘oli, Waipa, and Waikoko Bridges will be completed by May 31.
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Jessica Else, staff writer, can be reached at 245-0452 or jelse@thegardenisland.com.
