Crews Return After Rains Wash Away Repairs to Kaupakalua Rd

Kaupakalua. File photo by Wendy Osher.

By Maui Now Staff

County work crews returned to the Kaupakalua Road area today to conduct repairs after overnight rains in Haʻikū on Wednesday washed away recent pothole repairs.

County officials say a number of residents called to complain saying the rains left holes as deep as 8 inches in some locations.

The Department of Public Works had just filled in the potholes along Kaupakalua Road, Baldwin Avenue and other upcountry routes last week and went back today to patch the area up again.

Officials noted that today’s repairs are a “temporary fix at best.”

In an announcement today, County Communications Director Rod Antone said a more semi-permanent solution will involve the repaving of bad portions of Kaupakalua Road next month.  He said this will commence once the Highways Division finishes its Kahekili Highway repaving project in Kahakuloa.

The repaving work along Kaupakalua is expected to be completed by mid to late June.  County officials say the temporary fix will help to improve existing road conditions until federal funds can be used to fix the road.

“There will be areas left over that will need some additional work, but with existing maintenance funds the department is targeting the worst areas first,” said Public Works Director David Goode in a county press release. “Given the existing conditions of the road, this will be a stop gap measure that we anticipate will last long enough for us to get to the bigger reconstruction project and something that we feel will be cost effective,” he said.

County officials note that Kaupakalua Road has already been approved for federal road reconstruction funds – as were Kokomo and Hansen roads – and is scheduled for pavement reconstruction in 2018. Under the federal road reconstruction guidelines, participating construction costs are split with 80% coming from the federal government, and 20% funded by the County of Maui.

“By getting Kaupakalua Road reconstructed, the end result is a finished product that is designed and built to last for 25-30 years as opposed to a resurfacing project that would be more costly and last for 10 years, or less,” county officials said.

Antone said, in the meantime, county crews will continue to monitor conditions of Kaupakalua Road and patch areas that need to be addressed immediately.

Motorists in the area are advised to drive with caution until repairs can be made.