Keahua Bridge damaged
LIHU‘E — Last weekend a high level of rainfall was recorded across the island of Kaua’i. The USGS South Fork Wailua Stream gage recorded an increase from 5 feet to 20 feet high of water on Saturday. This heavy rain event caused severe damage to the Keahua bridge at the entrance to the Lihu‘e-Koloa Forest Reserve. The DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) is temporarily blocking the entrance to Keahua bridge until damage assessments and repairs can be performed. Please do not attempt to cross the bridge because the foundations and support bracings have been compromised.
5 Comments
Oh yeah THAT bridge. The bridge that no one wanted. The bridge that ruined loop road. Here’s an idea: at the harbor there’s another multi million dollar boondoggle – the ramp built for the Superferry. It cost $2.3 million dollars and was used exactly one time. Maybe you can salvage something from it rather than keep wasting my taxes building bridges no one needs.
Right on…..couldn’t have said it better. “Oh yeah THAT bridge”….😂😂😂
If they would have just left the basic cement crossing, the repairs would have been minimal. The bridge cost several million dollars and was not needed.
I agree that bridge wasn’t necessary, but the original crossing was barely hanging on. This rain would have wiped it out. I think the County needs to start taking into consideration what these bridges look like in contrast to where they are being built. These steel monstrosities just ruin the whole area and really turn this beautiful island into a visual eyesore. It’s so awful to drive through Kealia and see that steel monster of a bridge right in the middle of such a beautiful place. That bridge up at Loop road is a conplete mistake, in many ways.
FYI: the second surge of rain in April 2018 took out the original Keahua stream crossing structure. If the new bridge was not built, there would have been no access to the area for a long time.
I am hopeful that DNLR will quickly repair this damage and restore access to this area. If the Wailua River Bridges were ever made impassable, we need another route to get to Lihue. This would be the route.