Kūhiō Highway Night Road Work Suspended as Shearwater fledgling Season Begins

Night road work for a section of Kūhiō Highway is suspended due to the start of Shearwater fledgling season.

Starting Monday, Sept. 13, pavement reconstruction and resurfacing of the highway, between Kapuna and Wailapa Roads, will switch to daytime hours, according to Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation.

The updated working hours will be from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m, Monday through Friday.

“Artificial lights can affect young seabirds leaving their nests for the first time, causing them to collide with structures, become confused or exhausted, and leaving them grounded and vulnerable to predators and vehicles,” HDOT officials stated. “By shifting this work to daytime hours HDOT is doing its part to minimize impacts to Kauaʻi’s Shearwater population.”

Digital message boards reflecting the shift from night to day work were deployed Thursday, Sept. 9. For the duration of the work, a single lane closure will be in place with traffic alternating through the open lane.

This daytime work will be ongoing through October and possibly into November, weather permitting. The public is cautioned to anticipate delays and drive with caution through the work zone.