Updated at 3:25 p.m., Saturday, October 27, 2007
Weight limit lowered for Kauai's Wainiha Bridge No. 3
Advertiser Staff
LIHU'E — The state Department of Transportation on Friday lowered the maximum vehicle weight limit for Wainiha Bridge No. 3 on the North Shore of Kaua'i to 3 tons following a recent bridge inspection.The latest weight restrictions will allow primarily passenger vehicles to cross. Recent bridge tests have found the bridge's structure to be deteriorating. Short-term emergency repairs were performed on Friday, but the bridge will eventually need to be replaced.
The bridge is located on Kuhio Highway (Route 560) between mileposts 6 and 7.
Police and security guards will monitor vehicle crossings at the bridge 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure motorists are following the vehicle weight limit until the bridge is replaced.
DOT officials are finalizing plans to construct a temporary bridge at Wainiha Bridge No. 3, similar to the temporary bridge installed at Wainiha Bridge No. 2 in October 2004.
The DOT has been meeting with Kauai's' North Shore community to discuss the design of the permanent bridges for all three Wainiha Stream crossings.
