This is a story about the difficulties our county government has in addressing the necessary problems to create an appropriate solution. Since before 2004 there have been at least three county one lane bridges — Pu‘uopae, Kapaha and Opaeka‘a —
This is a story about the difficulties our county government has in addressing the necessary problems to create an appropriate solution.
Since before 2004 there have been at least three county one lane bridges — Pu‘uopae, Kapaha and Opaeka‘a — that had become dilapidated, unsightly and in desperate need of repair or replacement.
In 2004, with the support of then-Mayor Baptiste, our Public Works Department initiated a project to replace these bridges as two-lane structures.
But there is a story within a story here. For projects of this nature on county roads, the county seeks federal funding from the Federal Highway Administration which would meet up to 80 percent of the project costs.
It is an interesting question of public policy as to why in our federal system of government the federal government, with more than $15 trillion in debt and an annual deficit of more than $1 trillion, should be financing projects of an essentially local nature instead of the local government.
It is, of course, a means of extending federal power into matters that should be handled by state and local governments. I will not attempt to address that issue here.
In any event, a federal commitment was received, but it contained the usual conditions that the federal government requires to obtain the funding. One of those was what is known as Item 106, and it specifies that if any part of the project would affect a structure such as a bridge which might have historic significance, then the county must conduct a study which addresses community concerns that might occur about altering the structure.
A visit to the agency administering the federal fund approvals by some community activists, including a councilwoman, alerted the administration to the potential that meeting the historical significance requirement might not be a cakewalk, and activity on the project was suspended.
This caused the loss of $151,700 in federal funds, which expired due to the time delay, and $37,900 in county funds expended for work that was not used.
The condition of the three bridges continued to deteriorate. Last year, after a seven-year period of inattention, our Public Works Department reopened consideration of the project.
This circumstance generated a “crisis” for our Kaua‘i government officials. A crisis can be defined as the making of a choice preceded by a modicum of thought. Failing bridges are not unique to our island. Of the nation’s almost 600,000 bridges, it is estimated that more than 40 percent are structurally deficient (closed or restricted to light traffic) or functionally obsolete.
It is now a settled practice that public roads are two or more lanes to facilitate traffic . So a one-lane bridge is a bit of an aberration and impediment to the flow of traffic. Also, it constitutes something of a safety hazard.
A recent (2004-2009) study of Kaua‘i bridges showed for 12 one-lane bridges an average accident rate of 2.33 per year per bridge, and for 41 two-lane bridges an average accident rate of 1.24 per bridge per year.
Thus, it appears that two-lane bridges are about twice as safe as one lane. Of the island’s one-lane bridges, the bridge across the Hanalei river is the most dangerous, comprising 50 percent of all the reported accidents.
The deterioration of the condition of the bridges, therefore, brings the county officials to a position they seek to avoid — having to make a decision where the public views are not unanimous.
The safe haven of continuing to do nothing is no longer a viable option.
To be able to rebuild the bridges as two-lane structures requires convening the necessary studies to consider the issue of historical significance and then making a finding that safety and public convenience override historic considerations. This course will ruffle the feathers of a handful of community activists who resist change.
Rebuilding the bridges in a one-lane format is easier and tempting to a county management which prefers to avoid difficult decisions.
It is most likely that the great majority of the citizens affected would prefer to see a prompt reconstruction of the presently dangerous bridges in a two-lane format that would optimize safety and best serve the convenience of those using the bridges.
The advantage of preserving antiquity is a dubious one.
As always, when government vacillates and it seems that inertia and ineptness are competing for supremacy, it would be important for those affected to register their views.
Unfortunately, too frequently the voices heard are those of an active few rather than the larger number of those who fail to bestir themselves. The rule that we get the government we deserve will then apply.
• Walter Lewis is a resident of Princeville and pens a biweekly column for The Garden Island.
