We received a notification today from the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) advising highway users of a full nightly closure of Kuhio Highway (Route 560) in the area of the Hanalei Bridge. Specifically, the closure is from Hanalei Plantation Road at Princeville to Ohiki Road (at the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge). This starts Tuesday, January 2, 2024, and is needed for the Hanalei Bridge Repair project.

The state DOT said, “After the initial week, closures will continue nightly on a Sunday-through-Thursday schedule from 11 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. the following day.” It isn’t clear to us yet what the “initial week” closures entail, and we could not reach anyone at HDOT to confirm what was intended by that statement.

The state advised that the next project is set to replace the Hanalei Bridge timber decking, steel bolts, and corroded steel members. In addition, “the bridge’s steel structure is to be prepared and repainted.” We’re not sure what “prepared” means in this instance.

How long could this Hanalei Bridge closure last?

These repairs, which follow this week’s weather and flooding that closed Hanalei Bridge, are set for Sunday through Thursday nights “after the initial week.” That is set to continue through the project’s completion, which is in about two months, at the end of February. That being said, however, there are two extenuating circumstances that visitors and residents should bear in mind:

First, the state advised that “all work is weather permitting.” Since this is happening in what’s turning out to be a very rainy winter, that might lead to a longer duration.

Second, the state DOT tends to take far longer to complete projects than anticipated. A good example is their Honolulu airport runway repair, which in total has been extended greatly.

During the decking refurbishment, the state is staging first responders on both sides of the bridge, “as they (the public) will not be able to drive across the bridge while the deck is being replaced.”

Our sense is that this could be more lengthy and complicated than has thus far been indicated. For further information, you can check the state’s website at https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/roadwork/kauai/

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