Full closure of the Wailua Plantation Bridge and emergency zone hearing

LĪHUʻE, Hawai‘i – The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT) is providing notice of its intent to declare a traffic emergency zone on Kūhiō Highway (Route 56) on the Wailua Plantation Bridge (Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste Memorial Bridge). This notice is pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes § 264-1.5.

 

The parallel beams that support the deck on the Wailua Plantation Bridge are severed across multiple panels due to extensive corrosion of the steel bridge deck. The affected panels need to be replaced by the end of next week for the safety of highway users.

 

There will be a full closure of the Wailua Plantation Bridge, on Tuesday, June 3 from 8 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., and if needed on Wednesday, June 4, from 8 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. During the closure, steel plates will be placed over the affected areas as a temporary measure until deck panel replacements are completed. During the closure traffic will be directed to the mauka Wailua Bridge, with one lane going northbound and one going southbound.

An earlier release had this work as a single-lane closure on the Wailua Plantation bridge.

 

A traffic emergency zone declaration allows HDOT to expedite procurement and permitting to take action to construct improvements to protect access to the state highway. Anyone wishing to comment on the designation of Kūhiō Highway as a traffic emergency zone may do so through a virtual public meeting to be conducted within 24 hours of the designation.

 

The meeting will be on Friday, May 30, 2025, at 2 p.m. over Microsoft Teams. Click here to join, meeting ID: 222-662-340-434 2, Passcode: Lx7u3vx6,  or call in to +1 808-829-4853 using conference pin 725-328-685#.

 

 

# # #

 

Media contact:

HDOT Public Affairs Office

Phone: 808-587-2160

Email: [email protected]