Highways emergency response efforts completed on Hawaii Island following Hurricane Lane and the Kilauea eruption Main, News Posted on Apr 1, 2019 in Highways News

HILO – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) Highways Division reports that the emergency repairs on Hawaii Island of damages caused by the Kilauea East Rift Zone Eruption (May to September 2018) and Hurricane Lane (August 2018) have been completed. See below for more details.

Kilauea Eruption

During the Kilauea eruption, daily earthquakes caused severe damage to Mamalahoa Highway (Highway 11) between mile markers 28 and 32 in Volcano. HDOT first used Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to determine the nature and extent of damage to the highway at specific locations. Repairs were extensive and involved 24/7 lane closures that enabled reconstruction of the roadbed from depths of up to 10 feet.

In February, upon completion of site-specific repairs, a follow-up GPR survey was performed for the corridor between mile markers 28 and 32. The GPR survey confirmed that all subsurface voids and cracks of concern under Mamalahoa Highway were properly repaired.

Hurricane Lane

As a result of Hurricane Lane, the HDOT Highway system sustained significant storm water damage from a record 50-inches of rain. The newly constructed Daniel K. Inouye Highway (Highway 200) between mile markers 8 and 11 and Mamalahoa Highway (Highway 11) in the vicinity of Kurtistown and Mountain View experienced severe road and drainage system damage due to the sheer volume of runoff within such a short time period. All drainage systems have been repaired.

The Hurricane Lane storm water also caused numerous landslides and embankment failures. Surface water flow caused landslides along Hawaii Belt Road (Highway 19) that threatened several residential structures at mile markers 3.2, 3.6, 6.6, 7.1 and 15.6. The most severe landslide occurred at mile marker 7.1 at the State Right-of-Way (property line) and required construction of a mechanically stabilized wall. Other earthen slopes were restored and hardened with masonry.

Surface water flow from adjacent private properties and an overflowing Makea stream exposed boulders in the roadbed of Hawaii Belt Road (Highway 19) and a landslide exposed a nearly 50-foot cliff at mile marker 11. Both the exposed boulders and cliff were stabilized using a system of 30-foot long soil nails and covered by cementitious shotcrete material.

Similar high water flows at Kapue Stream eroded the foundation at Kapue Bridge, Hawaii Belt Road (Highway 19) mile marker 6.53. The contractor used masonry to stabilize the foundation and surrounding area to protect from future water erosion.

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