The Hawaii Department of Transportation announced on May 13 a full closure of the H-1 Freeway at the Gulick Avenue overpass for work related to the Interstate Route H-1 Eastbound Improvements, Ola Lane Overpass to Likelike Highway off-ramp project.
The closure is scheduled from 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, to 8 a.m. the following day. The purpose is to allow crews to install overhead electrical lines spanning the freeway as part of ongoing improvement efforts. According to the announcement, eastbound motorists will be detoured via Middle Street and parallel roads such as North King Street, Dillingham Boulevard or North School Street before rejoining the eastbound H-1 after the Likelike Highway on-ramp. Westbound drivers will be routed through similar detours using Likelike Highway off-ramp and nearby streets.
This work is in preparation for deploying a temporary pedestrian bridge that will allow demolition and reconstruction of the Gulick Avenue overpass. The overpass currently has Oahu’s lowest vertical clearance but will gain approximately six inches in height after rehabilitation. Another full closure is planned for Saturday, July 11 from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., weather permitting, for installation of this temporary bridge, which will increase clearance from 14 feet 3 inches to about 17 feet 6 inches when complete.
Contingency dates are set for July 18, July 25 and August 1 in case delays occur due to weather or construction issues. The broader project aims to improve safety and efficiency by eliminating merges and adding emergency shoulders along this stretch of freeway.
The estimated completion date for these improvements has been updated from October 2027 to February 2028 if weather permits; more information can be found at https://h1widening.com/. For statewide lane closures updates visit https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/roadwork/. According to the official website, the Hawaii Department of Transportation manages airports, harbors and highways across all six major Hawaiian islands as part of its mission within state government.
