Updated at 9:45 a.m., Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Pi'ilani Highway's dangerous rocks inspected today
Advertiser Staff
Geolabs-Hawai'i is conducting its final field inspection today of the hazardous rock overhanging at Manawainui that forced the closure of portions of Pi'ilani Highway, Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa said.The inspection is in preparation for its Dec. 12 report to the county.
"Following receipt of the report, Geolabs and county representatives will meet to discuss possible alternative solutions that meet FEMA requirements,"Arakawa said, "and from that discussion, they will create a plan to scale and remove lose boulders and unstable overhangs along the fragile portions of Piilani Highway."
The county continues to work with Hawaiian TelCom, state agencies and the National Guard to arrange for the installation of an emergency satellite phone, a helicopter landing zone large enough for a CH-47 Chinook, a dispensing center and personnel, and transportation of the medically frail to regular doctor visits from and to Kaupo.
Based on discussions with Geolabs, Arakawa said, the Department of Public Works and Environmental Management anticipates the start of scaling and bolder removal to commence in the first week of January.
A CH-47 Chinook helicopter will make another supply drop today and deliver to Kipahulu 30 five-gallon water bottles,
three 55-gallon drums of unleaded fuel, two 20-pound bags of potatoes, three 15-pound bags of onions, multiple bags of toilet paper, two 12-pack bags of paper towels, 72 cans of pork and beans, 72 cans of corned beef, 16 twelve packs of D batteries, 30 four-packs of AA batteries, 72 cans of diced tomatoes, two 48-packs of saimin, and four cases of soy milk.
Meanwhile, Department of Public Works & Environmental Management officials report that the temporary bridge located in Wailua is to open and be operational by Friday.
