Kaua‘i roads, bridges and ports progress report

LῙHU'E, Hawai'i - The Hawai'i Department of Transportation (HDOT) is reporting progress in repairing transportation infrastructure on Kaua'i following the impacts of Hurricane Lowell.

STATE ROADS

Kūhiō Highway (Routes 56 and 560) open to the end of the road in Hā'ena; however, a local access only restriction has been set at Wainiha Bridges No. 1 and 2 between Ala Eke Road and 'Ananalu Road. This is due to scour damage from the hurricane. The Wainiha Bridges have also been weight limited to vehicles of 5 tons or below. The average passenger vehicle is 2 tons. A new abutment will be constructed within the month of October as a temporary repair.

Work at Wailua River to remove debris under the mauka Plantation bridge is also ongoing but is expected to be complete this evening. The south-bound morning contraflow will open for its normal Saturday hours from 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. If there is debris remaining, work will be completed on Sunday.

HDOT crew closed Kōkeʻe Road (Route 550) at its intersection with Waimea Canyon Drive today to expedite clearance of the remaining single lane, two-mile section of the 14-mile-route and aid to campers at Kōkeʻe State Park.

Crews also continue debris clearing from utility lines and the sides of Kaumuali'i Highway (Route 50). Due to the nature and location of the debris this work must be done during daylight for the safety of the workers. HDOT urges all drivers encountering debris clearing to drive with caution and exercise patience.

The majority of Kuamoʻo Road (Route 580) was cleared yesterday. Ahukini Road (Route 570) between Palai Street and Kapule Highway and Halewili Road (Route 540) remain closed due to downed utility poles.

LῙHU'E AIRPORT

Commercial power was restored to Lῑhu'e Airport (LIH) at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10. Roughly 525 passengers stayed at LIH overnight. Our airline partners have advised that they have capacity to accommodate the overnight passengers and ticketed passengers today. Wait times have varied by hour with a 32-minute wait in the 7-8 a.m. hour, 60 minutes between 8-9 a.m., 58 minutes between 9-10 a.m. and 9 minutes between 10-11 a.m. Departing passengers may return to the recommended predeparture guidance of 90 minutes for interisland flights and two hours for flights to the continental United States.

HDOT sincerely thanks travelers for their patience as well as the Kaua'i Emergency Management Agency and airport partners such as HMSHost, Hawaiian/Alaska, United Airlines and American Airlines for their aloha during this post-hurricane period. HDOT also extends a deep mahalo nui loa to the Kaua'i Island Utility Cooperative for prioritizing the power restoration to allow the airport to operate more efficiently.

HDOT is sending a 600 kilowatt (kW) power generator from Honolulu to Kaua'i to serve as an inline backup to the existing generator. HDOT is in the process of replacing the existing generator with a new 1,000 kW generator. The arrival of the 600 kW generator is expected on Kauai in late September and the new 1,000 kW generator is expected to be installed in 2029.

PORT ALLEN

Port Allen remains in port condition Zulu, which means the port is closed to commercial operations. The continued closure is due to damage to the navigational buoys. Divers will be going into the water today and tomorrow to reestablish the buoys. During this closure, operators are advised to contact HDOT Harbors to coordinate regular deliveries.

Photos of Lῑhu'e Airport and Kaua'i road clearing can be found at https://hidot.hawaii.gov/kauai-pictures-9-11/ If these images are used, credit Hawai'i Department of Transportation or HDOT.

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