Work to prepare for the installation of a traffic roundabout just beyond the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park entrance began Monday.
The upgrades also include plans to realign Crater Rim Drive and add an administrative lane at the entrance station, according to an announcement from HVNP.
Workers have fenced off 33 parking stalls east of Kilauea Visitor Center as a staging area for the traffic safety project, creating less parking.
Some sections of forest near the entrance will be removed in the weeks ahead but will be restored as much as possible.
The park consulted with kupuna about this process and is committed to minimizing the loss of forest, according to the announcement. All workers are required to follow the park’s stringent invasive pest and green waste protocols.
“We want the community and visitors to be prepared for the changes, which will eventually make it safer to enter and explore the park,” said HVNP Superintendent Rhonda Loh. “We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding.”
The addition of an administrative lane and the realignment of the Crater Rim Drive intersection into a roundabout will improve traffic flow. The upgrades will result in less frequent backups onto Highway 11 — a major safety concern, especially during eruptions when park visitation soars.
Crews also will conduct important infrastructure upgrades to water, fiber optic and electrical lines underground between the park entrance and visitor center.
The traffic safety upgrades are included with the National Park Service’s nearly two-year Disaster Recovery Project following the eruption and collapse of Kilauea volcano’s summit in 2018.
Park visitors should expect limited parking, delays at the entrance station, and the potential for temporary area closures, especially if an eruption occurs. In addition to reduced parking near Kilauea Visitor Center, half the parking lot at Uekahuna is reserved for the construction project.
