A crane lifts a 60-ton concrete section during repairs to the damaged pedestrian walkway over the H-1 freeway in 'Aiea. Scott Morifuji | The Honolulu Advertiser   Workers use a torch to cut away a piece of steel that was sticking out from the 'Aiea walkway's original structure. Scott Morifuji | The Honolulu Advertiser

East-and west-bound traffic was halted on the H-1 Freeway as a precaution while the precast replacement section was lifted into position by a crew from Hawaiian Dredging.

The overpass has been out of service since September, when a large backhoe being towed on a U.S. Army trailer slammed into it. Officials closed the 'ewa-bound lanes of the freeway in the hours after the accident, sparking traffic jams across the island.

Efforts this morning to install the 80-foot-long replacement span came off almost without a hitch, said Scott Ishikawa, state Department of Transportation spokesman.

"They had to use a torch to cut away a piece of steel re-bar that was sticking out from the existing support, but other than that it went very smoothly," Ishikawa said.

Workers welded the replacement walkway in place and will return over the next few weeks to pour concrete around the two ends of the walkway and attach a new safety railing.