Paving for portion of Kūhiō Highway moves to day work

Kūhiō Highway repaving from Keālia to Anahola is switching to day work starting Monday as Shearwater fledgling season is now underway.

A single lane closure for the northbound direction, between Keālia Road and the Donkey Beach parking lot, will begin Monday and continue till Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Hawai‘i Department of Transportation crews will pave over the milled surface of the northbound lane during the closure.

The paving was originally scheduled for night work, but the project was shifted to the day as Shearwater fledgling season began Sept. 15. State officials say artificial lights can affect young seabirds leaving their nests for the first time, causing them to fly into structures, become confused or exhausted, leaving them grounded and vulnerable to predators and vehicles.

Night work paused during the last week of September until the end of Shearwater fledgling season, Dec. 15. The project is expected to be completed by January 2024, weather–permitting.

Electronic message boards will be posted to notify motorists of the closure. The public is advised to follow all traffic control signs and allow for extra travel time to get to their destinations.

All roadwork is weather–permitting. For Kauaʻi weekly road closure information visit: https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/roadwork/kauai/.