Construction of a new Waiaka Bridge in Waimea may commence during the upcoming summer season

The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) has announced plans to seek bids for the replacement of the 93-year-old Waiaka Bridge and the installation of a roundabout at the intersection of Kawaihae Road and Kohala Mountain Road in Waimea.

The new bridge, approximately 53 feet wide and 80 feet long, will accommodate two travel lanes, a roadway shoulder or bike lane, and a raised sidewalk for safer pedestrian access. The project, estimated to cost $25 million, is expected to start construction in June 2026 and be completed by June 2028.

State Sen. Tim Richards has expressed his support for the project, stating that the intersection is a "really bad intersection" and that the new bridge would solve many issues for the whole corridor. Numerous factors have delayed the rebuilding of the bridge, including the need to acquire portions of adjacent properties, one of which is owned by comedian and actress Roseanne Barr.

Last week, it was reported that Barr is selling her 46-acre macadamia nut farm near Honokaa, but it's unclear if her property abutting the bridge project is also for sale or if the state acquired any of the parcel for the project. There is no relevant information in the search results about who acquired the Big Island property adjacent to the bridge project from Barr through their Big Buck Trust.

In preparation for the project, a mock roundabout was set up using cones at the Waimea-Kohala Airport for truckers to drive through and provide feedback. The mock roundabout featured a 130-foot diameter traffic circle with a truck apron in the center and a landscaped median. State Sen. Tim Richards considered the mock roundabout exercise successful.

An inspection of the Waiaka Bridge according to National Bridge Inventory Standards produced a score of 26 out of 100, deeming it "structurally deficient." The existing bridge is a curved-concrete structure about 26 feet wide with a bolted on three-foot wooden walkway.

A final environmental assessment, which found no significant environmental impacts, was published by the state in July 2022. Bids for the project are expected to go out by November 2023.

Barr launched an online campaign more than a decade ago to save the current bridge from demolition. However, with the new bridge project set to improve safety and traffic flow in the area, it seems that the old bridge's days may be numbered.

Construction of a new Waiaka Bridge in Waimea may commence during the upcoming summer season