Wailua River Bridge to close nightly Dec. 16-19; traffic will be detoured to Mayor Bryan Baptiste Bridge

The Wailuā River Bridge on Kūhiō Highway will be closed in both directions Tuesday through Friday nights between Kuamoʻo Road and Wailua Marina Road for essential repair work, the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation said.

The nightly closures will occur from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

During these hours, southbound drivers heading toward Līhuʻe will be detoured to a contraflow lane on the Mayor Bryan Baptiste Bridge. Traffic will be redirected to one northbound lane and one southbound lane, with cones marking the temporary traffic pattern.

The closures are necessary to allow contractors to pour concrete for a bridge structural element as part of ongoing repairs. The remaining work on the Wailua Bridge includes 11 concrete pours, spall repairs and paving.

The project, which began in 2022, is expected to be completed by March 2026.

The Hawai’i Department of Transportation has posted variable-message boards along Kūhiō Highway to inform road users about closures and detour routes. Motorists are advised to plan for delays and use alternative routes during the closure periods.

Visit the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation website to find a schedule of weekly lane closures on state highways around Kauaʻi.