The breakwater at Laupahoehoe Harbor on the Hamakua Coast will undergo $2.5 million in repairs beginning this month.
After awarding the contract to Honolulu-based American Marine Corp. in December 2014, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a notice to proceed in January.
“We thank the public for their patience in this process,” Joseph Bonfiglio, a spokesman for the Army Corps, said in an email. “The process of preparing, reviewing, revising, and accepting pre-construction submittals normally takes a few months. This is not at all unusual.”
The Corps says construction will begin later this month, with completion scheduled for February 2016.
“The purpose of this construction is to perform maintenance repairs on the existing project,” Bonfiglio said. “These maintenance repairs will rehabilitate and repair the existing breakwater and wave absorber and will require grouting of the breakwater centerline (ocean floor to crest) and repairing of dislodged armor stones.”
Before work can begin on the breakwater, Bonfiglio said the contractor will have to install a temporary bridge over the existing county bridge leading to Laupahoehoe Point. That work is included in the approximately six-month project timeline.
The temporary bridge will support the weight of the construction equipment and materials, and will remain in place for the duration of the project. AMC already has obtained a permit from the county for the bridge’s installation, according to Bonfiglio.
“We are absolutely committed to quality construction and the safety of the public and our workers,” he said.
Reached by phone, a representative of AMC said she could not comment on the project.
Hawaii County shut down the boat ramp at Laupahoehoe in 2009 in light of deteriorating conditions, including exposed steel bars and other hazards.
The launch ramp is the site where 20 students and four teachers were killed when a tsunami washed away Laupahoehoe school on April 1, 1946. The victims’ names adorn a monument at the county park.
The North Hilo Community Council is scheduled to discuss the Laupahoehoe Harbor repair project during its meeting Thursday. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the humanities room at the Laupahoehoe Library.