North Kalāheo Ave. Bridge rehabilitation Project
North Kalaheo Avenue Bridge
About the Project
The rehabilitation project for North Kalāheo Avenue Bridge No. 445 over the Kawainui Canal in Kailua is scheduled to run from March 30, 2026, and continue for approximately seven months through October, weather and site conditions permitting. Work will include repairing concrete delamination, spalls, and cracks on the existing bridge structure; constructing new sheet pile retaining walls behind each bridge abutment; and replacing bridge railings, the bridge deck wearing surface, drain pipes, and approach guardrails. These improvements are intended to strengthen the bridge’s structural integrity, extend its service life, and enhance safety for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
Work Hours and Traffic Impacts
We are committed to minimizing traffic’s impact on the community and will make adjustments to the traffic control plan wherever possible. As the project progresses, the schedule remains subject to change due to weather and unforeseen conditions.
June
Contraflow will be implemented Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The bridge will be fully open in both directions outside of work hours, including weekends and holidays.
July – August (anticipated traffic impacts)
DDC is actively working with the utility agency to resolve a clearance issue involving a utility pole. Sheet pile installation in the affected bridge section has been paused pending resolution.
- Before resolution: Contraflow will be in effect Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- After resolution: Sheet pile installation will resume. This will require an extended daytime contraflow (7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.) and an overnight Kailua-bound detour (5:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.) Monday through Friday.
September – October
The Kailua-bound detour will end. One lane will operate under contraflow during work hours (8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.), and the bridge will be fully open outside of work hours until the project’s estimated completion in October 2026.
Press Releases
FAQ
Why can't work be performed at night?
Work cannot be performed during nighttime hours because reduced visibility would compromise worker safety, and the work would generate unreasonable noise impacts to the surrounding community. The construction activities involve using hydraulic hammers to drive sheet piles into the stream bed, resulting in significant noise levels.
Why can't equipment be moved out of the closed travel lane at the end of each work day?
The heavy equipment required for bridge work cannot practically be moved back and forth daily during the working week. Doing so would introduce safety risks to workers, motorists, and the structure itself, damage the roadway pavement, extend the overall project timeline, and reduce construction efficiency. Traffic control measures, including lane configurations, are determined by site conditions, safety requirements, and the nature of the ongoing work — not solely by whether active construction is occurring at a given moment.
Why was the project timed to occur the way it has been?
Pedestrian and school-area safety were central considerations in scheduling this work. By timing the primary construction phase to coincide with the end of the school year and summer recess, we aimed to minimize school-related traffic impacts during the most intensive construction period.
Why can't the bridge restrict traffic to the Kailua-bound traffic direction only?
Consideration was given to detouring traffic to allow Kāneʻohe-bound traffic in the mornings and Kailua-bound traffic in the afternoons or evenings during the work week. To route Kailua-bound traffic over the bridge, a detour would need to divert Kāneʻohe-bound motorists off North Kalāheo Avenue by turning left onto Kainui Drive, just past the intersection with L’Orange Place. This presents two significant problems:
Castle Point / Kailuana Place Residents. Approximately 100–200 homes in the Castle Point neighborhood, accessed via Kailuana Place and adjacent side streets, would be restricted to left turns only onto North Kalāheo Avenue under this configuration. There is no practical way to enforce or prevent residents from turning right, making this detour difficult to control safely. It would also significantly increase traffic congestion for drivers exiting streets on the makai side north of L’Orange Place.
Pali Palms Plaza Access. The detour would eliminate access to the Pali Palms Plaza parking lot fronting North Kalāheo Avenue for businesses and Nico’s Restaurant. This parking lot has a Kāneʻohe-bound traffic entrance only, which would be detoured to Kainui Drive. A left turn from the Kailua-bound direction is illegal, and establishing traffic control that effectively compels an illegal maneuver creates unacceptable liability exposure and accident risk.
Impact of a Kailua-bound only traffic direction