The County of Hawai'i is erecting barricades to prohibit use of Old Laupahoehoe Road, which has been deemed unsafe even for pedestrians.

A study by GeoLabs found active landslides with degrees of hazard ranging from dangerous to extremely dangerous. The county is installing barricades to discourage pedestrian use of the unofficial scenic trail.

The road has been closed to vehicle traffic for more than 20 years and has been unofficially used by pedestrians in recent years. The October 2006 earthquakes caused extensive landslides covering major portions of the one-mile stretch.

At the April 25 Laupahoehoe community meeting, residents stressed the importance of an emergency exit. The county is considering safety improvements to Laupahoehoe Point Road. The estimated pre-construction cost is $350,000: $100,000 to study any potential hazards and $250,000 to identify historical sites.

See the final report online at www.co.hawaii.hi.us on the "Projects Update" page.