HONOLULU – Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed a disaster proclamation Wednesday authorizing emergency repairs to a portion of Kaumuali‘i Highway in the Kekaha area in order to prevent imminent collapse resulting from wave erosion, a press release states. “The closure of
HONOLULU – Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed a disaster proclamation Wednesday authorizing emergency repairs to a portion of Kaumuali‘i Highway in the Kekaha area in order to prevent imminent collapse resulting from wave erosion, a press release states.
“The closure of Kaumuali‘i Highway for an extended period of time, as well as the potential loss of the sewer force main in the highway, poses a danger the health, safety and welfare of the people and local economy,” Gov. Abercrombie said. “Prompt, expeditious action is necessary to assure the safety of the public.”
The soil foundation adjacent to a section of the highway has sustained significant erosion damage caused by waves, the release states.
From July 16 to 19, waves eroded approximately 15 feet of the highway shoulder. Continual wave action will undermine the highway pavement and the sewer force main running beneath the highway, necessitating its immediate repair and reconstruction, the release states.
This section of Kaumuali‘i Highway is a two-lane highway and the only route providing access to the west end of Kaua‘i, the county landfill, the wastewater treatment plant and the Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands.
The environmental permitting, design and construction of the repairs to this highway is expected to take more than a year to complete.
