The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) will hold a public information meeting to discuss planned structural improvements for three Upcountry bridges. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, October 14, at the King Kekaulike High School cafeteria.
According to HDOT, the ʻAlae Bridge, Pōhakuokalā Bridge, and Waiʻale Bridge in Kula are set to undergo retrofitting aimed at increasing their resistance to seismic activity. “HDOT is seeking to retrofit the ʻAlae Bridge, Pōhakuokalā Bridge and Waiʻale Bridge in Kula to increase their resistance to seismic activity.”
The project is currently in its environmental review and preliminary engineering phase. Construction is expected to begin in August 2026 and be completed by January 2028.
During construction, there will be single-lane road closures as well as full bridge closures for each bridge. Detour routes will be provided, and work on the bridges will occur one after another rather than simultaneously in order to reduce traffic impacts.
The department encourages community members affected by these changes or interested in learning more about the upgrades to attend the upcoming meeting.
