Traffic emergency zone hearing for Kaukmualiʻi Highway in ʻŌmaʻo

LĪHUʻE, Hawaiʻi - The Hawai'i Department of Transportation (HDOT) provides notice of its intent to declare a traffic emergency zone on Kaumualiʻi Highway (Route 50) near milepost 10.1 in ʻŌmaʻo.

A traffic emergency zone declaration pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) §264-1.5 allows HDOT to accelerate procurement and waive certain permitting requirements.

Failure of the roadway at this location would require closure of Kaumualiʻi Highway, severing the only state highway access for residents and communities west of ʻŌmaʻo.

In response to a recurring pothole, HDOT conducted exploratory excavation at this location which revealed the top of a subsurface void, approximately 10 feet below the pavement. The void measures approximately 12 feet wide, 8 feet high and extends at least 60 feet in length. The void is believed to be an abandoned, unlined irrigation tunnel that likely served agricultural operations prior to construction of the existing concrete box culvert.

The recommended emergency mitigation measure to stabilize the subsurface void is placement of flowable fill to restore support beneath the roadway and prevent further deterioration.

A hearing within 24 hours of the designation is required under HRS §264-1.5. HDOT will be hosting this hearing virtually through Microsoft Teams on Thursday, July 23 at 1 p.m. The Teams meeting may be accessed here or by dialing into 808-829-4853 with the conference ID 874 798 395#.

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Media contact:

HDOT Public Affairs Office

Phone: 808-587-2160

Email: [email protected]