As emergency repairs continue to the Kolekole and Nanue Bridges on Hawaii Belt Road (Route 19) in North Hilo, the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT) is reminding the traveling public of the temporary 12-ton (24,000 pounds) posted weight limits for these structures.
HDOT will continue to verify vehicle documentation to ensure vehicles may safely cross Kolekole and Nanue bridges without compromising their structural integrity. The weight restriction has no effect on regular passenger vehicles but can impact emergency vehicles, buses, and tractor-trailers. HDOT has coordinated with Hawaii county emergency response and public transit agencies on access to these areas for their vehicles. Tractor-trailer drivers must have weight information that accurately represents their load available, or they may not be allowed access to the bridges. We are working to keep our communities and commerce moving but must protect the continuity of the system and the health and safety of the community.
HDOT established these weight limits on these bridges out of an abundance of caution. Further repairs that will return the bridges to unposted loads are scheduled as follows:
Kolekole Emergency Repair
Estimated opening to all traffic: June 2022
Estimated Construction Cost – $ 8 million
Nanue Emergency Repair
Estimated opening to all traffic: May 2022
Estimated Construction Cost – $ 350,000
HDOT will continue to update on the status of the repairs to the Kolekole and Nanue Bridges through news releases and social media posts. To sign up for HDOT releases, visit https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/hidot/subscriber/new.