Round Top Drive reopens after emergency repairs

By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Transportation Writer

You can see the city lights from Round Top again.

City officials said yesterday that they have completed emergency repairs, allowing them to reopen Round Top Drive after a landslide left it closed for more than a week .

"We went in and did some temporary repair work that makes it stable and safe enough for public use," said Larry Leopardi, director of the city's Department of Facility Maintenance.

The landslide, which occurred during heavy rains Jan. 2, left mud and debris on a hairpin curve at the 2500 block of Round Top Drive, cutting off access to a popular scenic overview.

The city initially tried to make enough repairs to reopen the road in a few days, but the hillside continued to slide onto the narrow roadway, making access impossible.

Some residents, who had to add up to 30 minutes to their commuting time because of the road closure, had feared that the roadway might be closed for months while the city evaluated the continuing erosion on the hillside and came up with a permanent solution.

Leopardi, however, said city crews working yesterday were able to make enough repairs using concrete barriers to make the road safe enough to be reopened. The road was reopened about 6 p.m. yesterday, he said.

The situation will continue to be re-evaluated daily to ensure that the erosion doesn't worsen and make the road unsafe again, Leopardi said.

Reach Mike Leidemann at 525-5460 or mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com