Posted on: Friday, October 29, 2004
Work on Kaua'i bridge progresses at record pace
By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua'i Bureau
WAINIHA, Kaua'i — State transportation officials are setting records in the construction of an emergency bridge over the Wainiha Stream.
Jan TenBruggencate • The Honolulu Advertiser It's also only about five weeks from the day bridge inspectors realized the 48-year-old Wainiha Bridge No. 2 was failing and needed immediate replacement — another possible record.
"The only reason we could do it this quickly is the governor's signing an emergency proclamation, and the parts came in early," Ishikawa said.
The original, one-lane Wainiha Bridge No. 2 was built 48 years ago as a steel-and-wood temporary bridge. It survived with regular maintenance until last month, when an overweight truck apparently overstressed its rusted members and caused a significant sag.
With a $1 million emergency budget, the state Highways Division assessed the situation and ordered a bolt-together, $200,000 galvanized steel truss bridge from Acrow Corp. in New Jersey. It's 100 feet long, with a 12-foot-wide driving surface, and it goes together "like an erector set," Ishikawa said.
Ishikawa said Kuhio Highway in Wainiha was expected to be reopened about 6 a.m. today.
Residents of Ha'ena, on the far side of the Wainiha River, were able to cross the river in a small boat, which loaded passengers upstream of the bridge, passed under it, and off-loaded them downstream in Hanalei.
Ishikawa said the situation points out the urgency to permanently replace all three of the old Wainiha bridges. He said public meetings on replacement alternatives will be scheduled next year.
Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 245-3074.
"I don't remember many days when we built a bridge in 24 hours," said Department of Transportation spokesman Scott Ishikawa.
While work is being done on Wainiha Bridge No. 2, a small boat is being used to carry Ha'ena residents across Kaua'i's Wainiha stream. However, some prefer another mode of transportation. Workers yesterday were erecting a steel truss bridge over the 48-year-old steel-and-wood structure. MAP
Crews from contractor Hawaiian Dredging poured concrete bridge footings Tuesday night, and the state closed the road yesterday for 24 hours for the installation of the new bridge. It sits over the old bridge, but uses its own foundations and does not touch the old span. Because it's about a foot higher than the old bridge, crews installed new approach ramps of asphalt.
