Emergency repairs are set to begin on December 22 along a section of Hawaiʻi Belt Road (Route 19) between Wainaku and Hakalau, following the recent declaration of a traffic emergency zone in the area. The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT) announced that the repairs, initially scheduled for January, have been expedited to address worsening roadway conditions.
Work will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. During the first week, crews will be active from December 22 to December 24; in the following week, work is planned from December 29 to December 31. The immediate repair phase is expected to last up to two weeks.
Crews will address multiple locations along this stretch by closing one lane at a time and alternating traffic flow through the open lane. On December 22, work will start at Mile Post 4 near Hilo Scenic Point and progress northward each day.
A recent field investigation identified increasing surface distress and depressions in the roadway, as well as changes in slope and deep-seated failures beneath the road base. Planned mitigation includes patching cracks and reinforcing depressed pavement with grid structural systems installed under the road surface. A comprehensive geotechnical report is underway, with results anticipated within six months.
The declaration of a traffic emergency zone allows HDOT to speed up procurement and permitting processes under Hawai‘i Revised Statutes Section 264-1.5 in order to protect access on this state highway. A public hearing regarding these actions was held on December 16.
All construction activity depends on weather conditions. Updates or schedule changes can be found on HDOT’s social media platforms at https://www.facebook.com/HawaiiDepartmentOfTransportation and Twitter/X @DOTHawaii.
The Hawaii Department of Transportation manages transportation infrastructure across all six major Hawaiian islands, including highways like Route 19, airports for domestic and international carriers, commercial harbors, and an extensive network supporting mobility for people and goods (official website). As part of Hawaii’s executive branch since shortly after statehood in 1959 (official website), HDOT coordinates planning, design, construction, maintenance, and collaborates with federal agencies such as the Federal Highway Administration (official website). Its mission is to provide safe and efficient transportation while fostering economic growth across its multi-modal system (official website).
