Progress on Highway 137 Restoration in Hawaii Island Despite Minor Setbacks
Work to restore the lava-covered Highway 137 in Lower Puna, Hawaii Island, remains on schedule for completion by March 2026, despite recent challenges. Sherise Kanae-Kane, a spokeswoman for the Hawaii County Department of Public Works (DPW), confirmed during a community briefing that the project is moving ahead as planned.
The $17.8 million restoration project started on September 24 with a ceremonial blessing. Funded primarily by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), with Hawaii County contributing $4.45 million, the project aims to reopen a 3.64-mile stretch of Highway 137, particularly at the “Four Corners” intersection with Highway 132, which was devastated by lava flows during the Kilauea eruption in 2018.
Despite some discrepancies identified between the project plans and actual site conditions, DPW Project Manager Alex Kalawe expressed confidence that these issues could be resolved within a month, minimizing their impact on the overall timeline. The scope of the work includes grading existing lava rock, paving the roadway, and installing a new six-inch waterline.
This restoration of Highway 137 marks the first phase in a series of four road restoration projects planned by the DPW. The subsequent phase will focus on Upper and Lower Pohoiki Road, with bids opening on December 12. Additional phases are currently in the design stage, which will address portions of Highway 137 and Lighthouse Road.
To keep the community informed about progress, DPW plans to hold monthly online meetings, with the next one scheduled for December 20, 2023. The series will continue until project completion or until deemed unnecessary. The final meeting is set for July 18, 2024, ensuring local residents remain engaged throughout the process.
Source
Photo credit www.thegardenisland.com
