Kauai’s Kapaa Temporary Bypass to Reopen on Monday

State highway personnel have commenced installation of a new 42-inch drainage culvert (Wednesday, March 7, 2012). Photo courtesy Hawaii Department of Transportation.

By Wendy Osher

If the weather holds up, the Kapaa Temporary Bypass Road on Kauai, which has been closed since Monday, will reopen next week.

Heavy rains and floods undermined a 36-inch drainage culvert under the road, resulting in its closure on Monday, March 5 from Kuhio Highway to Olohena Road.

The state Department of Transportation will reopen the south leg of of the bypass on Monday, March 12, weather-permitting.

A state contractor removed the damaged drainage system, and is currently in the process of installing a 42-inch drainage culvert in its place.  Repaving and repairs are weather-permitting.

State DOT officials say the current road closure is creating heavier than normal traffic on the Kuhio Highway in the Kapaa area.

Earlier this week, the governor signed disaster proclamations for both Kauai and Oahu due to damages caused by sustained heavy rains over a three-day period beginning on Saturday.  A separate disaster declaration was also issued authorizing the state Department of Transportation to begin emergency highway repairs on the Kuhio Highway on Kauai’i.