Road work continues around West Hawaii

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Work to repair a sinkhole that formed late last year on Alii Drive continues this week in Kailua Village.

Alii Drive fronting Coconut Grove Marketplace will be restricted to one lane of travel 24 hours a day starting Tuesday.

The 24/7 closure of one lane follows the start of repair work on a sinkhole that developed in late December due to undermining of the seawall that fronts Oneo Bay. Initially, Hawaii County determined that traffic would be reduced to one lane of alternating travel between Hualalai and Walua roads from 7 a.m. to sunset Monday through Friday, however, “construction conditions” have prompted the 24-hour lane closure.

The roadway will be reduced to one lane between Hualalai and Walua roads through the duration of the project, however, it is possible the county could close both lanes if the road becomes unstable during excavation work.

The makai shoulder of the road, which has been closed to pedestrians since the sinkhole appeared Dec. 24, 2019, will remain closed while repairs are performed.

At the start of the project, the county anticipated work would last three to four weeks. Road crews may also work on Saturdays to speed up the project.

In addition to the county work, the state Department of Transportation plans roadwork in various areas of West Hawaii this week:

• On Mamalahoa Highway (Highway 190), a single-lane closure is planned between mile marker 15, south of the highway’s intersection with Daniel K. Inouye Highway, and mile marker 22, near Puu Waawaa Ranch Road, from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for landscaping work.

• On Akoni Pule Highway (Highway 270), motorists should expect delays due to a single-lane closure in the vicinity of Halaula-Maulili Road for installation of waterlines. Road work is from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• On Akoni Pule Highway (Highway 290), a single-lane closure will be in effect between Mile markers 25 and 29, from Makapala Road to the Pololu Valley lookout for landscaping work from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.