Highway reopening pushed back

LIHUE — The reopening of Kuhio Highway west of Hanalei, originally scheduled for June 13, has been pushed back again, according to the Hawaii Department of Transportation.

HDOT said Thursday it plans to reopen the highway on June 17, states a press release. The highway has been closed since it was devastated by flooding in mid-April 2018.

HDOT also announced that the planned full weekend closure of Waikoko Bridge scheduled for today through Monday, had been canceled for a second time, pushing back the planned reopening of the highway.

“The full closure of Waikoko Bridge will start at 9 p.m. Friday, June 14. The road will reopen at 5 a.m. Monday, June 17. The full closure is needed as the contractor will be replacing the deck of the single-lane bridge,” the press release reads. “Bridge night work leading up to the full closure is planned for the nights of Wednesday, June 12 and Thursday, June 13 between the hours of 7:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.”

HDOT is reminding the public that the Waipa and Waikoko bridges will close to all vehicular traffic at the start of the night work on June 12. Park-and-ride sites, pedestrian access, and a shuttle between the park-and-ride and Wainiha is available for placard-holders.

Following the completion of the full weekend closure on Monday, June 17, access to Kuhio Highway past Waipa Bridge will be available all day save for scheduled closures, according to HDOT.

An additional full weekend closure will be scheduled to complete work on Waipa Bridge. HDOT has said it will avoid the full closure on the weekends of the Haena to Hanalei Run, set for June 29, and the July 4th holiday.