Maui County has begun work on the fourth and final phase of the emergency rockfall hazard mitigation project at Kalepa and 'Alelele.

Cliffsides in the area became unstable as a result of the October 2006 earthquake, and the road between Kipahulu and Kaupo has been closed ever since because of the risk of rockslides.

Janod Contractors will be doing scaling work to remove unstable sections of the cliff faces. The $5.6 million final phase is being paid for by the county, which will be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and state Civil Defense.

The scaling work is expected to be completed by mid-October.

Kahu Charles Kauluwehi Maxwell Sr., assisted by Gina Naluai, conducted a blessing last week to kick off the final phase of work.