Kula Forest Reserve to Close for Access Road Repairs

The Kula State Forest Reserve will be closed for two weeks beginning on Monday, September 21^st, 2009 as crews work to complete repairs to the forest access road.

Crews work to repair a culvert damaged in wildfires and the December 2007 winter storm. File photo by Wendy Osher.

Last year, DLNR completed the initial phase of repairs to repave a mile of road which was damaged by response vehicles and equipment during the 2006-2007 wildland fire.  Additional damage was incurred during a severe rainstorm in December of 2007.

The forest will be open on the weekends during the closure period with repairs slated for completion on October 2^nd.

Specific closure details:

• Kula Forest Reserve to all public access during the weeks of Monday through Friday, September 21- 25, 2009 and Monday through Friday, September 28 – October 2.
• In October, there will be two additional days of road closure (dates to be announced later) and traffic delays when the road is open. (Closure signs will be posted at road entry points.)
• The forest will be open to the public over the intervening weekend, from 6 p.m. on Friday, September 25, to Monday, September 28, at 6 a.m.

“We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as we must close the reserve for public safety reasons. We will complete the final stage of repairs to the Kula Forest access road, including resurfacing a one mile section of road, and while we replace the existing culvert that allowed rain water to damage the dirt road,  resulting in constant closures for repair,” said Laura H. Thielen, DLNR chairperson.

(Posted by Wendy Osher)