KAUA'I EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
NEWS RELEASE:
Police reminding the public Kūhiō Highway, between Waikoko and Wainiha, is closed to public
The Kaua‘i Police Department is reminding the public that Kūhiō Highway, between Waikoko and Wainiha, remains closed as crews work to clear multiple landslides.
“Until officials deem the area safe for travel, that area of Kūhiō Highway is closed to the public until further notice, as it is deemed a traffic emergency zone,” said Deputy Police Chief Michael Contrades. “We have officers stationed in the area and are on the lookout for anyone attempting to traverse through the area. This type of activity will only further delay the opening of the highway to the public.”
The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) has announced it expects to open a one-lane route for emergency access only, to the Wainiha and Hā‘ena areas, on or before Monday, May 7, weather permitting.
Current Road Closures and Repairs:
• For residents affected by the Kahiliholo Road closure in Kīlauea, an emergency access road has been opened for local traffic only through the privately owned Common Ground and Wai Koa Guava Plantation properties.
• Kūhiō Highway at the Wailua River Bridge will have temporary lane closures nightly from to 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., starting Sunday, April 22, to Friday, April 27, in order to remove debris from the river. Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) reports this will not be a continuous closure. All traffic will be routed onto the Bryan Baptiste Memorial (Makai) Bridge, where one lane in each direction of traffic will be maintained.
• Lei O Papa Road in Princeville remains closed due to a sinkhole.
• Weke Road in the vicinity of Black Pot Beach remains closed.
• HDOT continues to inspect bridges in the flood-affected areas on Kaua‘i. All inspected bridges were deemed safe by HDOT.
For updates on road conditions and closures, please call 241-1725. Please do not call Kaua‘i police 911 unless you have an emergency. Damage to roads, highways, bridges and other infrastructure may be reported to the Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency’s (KEMA) Emergency Operations Center at 241-1800.
