Single-Lane Emergency Access Established on Kūhiō Highway by Hanalei Hill Landslide

Single-lane emergency access has been established on Kūhiō Highway where a landslide covered both lanes of the roadway by Hanalei Hill.

On Monday, the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) installed barriers, a rock fence and a side barrier on the downslope. Approximately two dozen contractors and HDOT employees worked to address the roughly 15,000 cubic yards of debris from the March 9 and 11 landslides.

The single-lane access is for emergency access for the county to provide critical services – sanitation, potable water, fire suppression, first responders, etc. This emergency access period could last approximately two days.

“We will be working on a plan to provide public access after that period that will restrict access during construction hours and ensure efficient single lane alternating movement through the area,” HDOT stated.

Additionally, an emergency access list will be coordinated with the County and checked at security check points on either side of the slide. A GPS system was also installed in the area to provide real time alerts of any slope movement to traffic control personnel, KEMA and HDOT.

HDOT will maintain the closure at Kūhiō Highway between Kolopua Apartments and Hanalei Plantation Road out of an abundance of caution.

Engineers were ferried to Kuhio Highway at mile marker 4.5 near Waikoko. A single lane closure remains in place for this section of road.