Wahiawa bridge closed today

The southbound lane of Kame­ha­meha Highway at the Karsten Thot Bridge will be closed from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. today for road resurfacing.

Previous repairs on the roadway, which traverses Lake Wilson just mauka of Wahiawa, helped snarl traffic in both directions during several days in September. The issue prompted Gov. Neil Abercrombie to say that the state is "considering options" to replace the Karsten Thot with a new bridge "if that is deemed the best solution."

Costs to build such a replacement bridge are estimated at between $10 million and $20 million. State transportation officials were unable to confirm Monday whether a new bridge is being considered.

In 2012 the department received dozens of complaints from infuriated motorists stuck in traffic when the bridge in Wahiawa was closed for repairs.