Emergency repairs on the Wilson Tunnel are expected to finish ahead of schedule and Likelike Highway is expected to fully reopen by 4 a.m. Thursday, the Department of Transportation announced today. 

Crews are removing concrete barriers and water-filled barriers in the Honolulu-bound direction of the tunnel.

Today’s work will continue until 7 p.m. and resume Wednesday at 9 a.m. through 4 a.m. Thursday in an effort to finish the work and avoid lane closures during the peak morning commute hours.

Both Honolulu bound lanes will be closed from the H-3 Freeway split through the Wilson Tunnel while the barriers are removed.

The Pali Highway and H-3 Freeway are alternate routes.

All of the repairs are complete in the Kaneohe-bound direction of the Likelike Highway. 

The emergency repairs cost $1.3 million, a DOT spokesman said in an email.

Crews inspected the tunnel and determined it is structurally sound and safe for travel. 

Damage to some of the stainless steel rods that help support the tunnel ceiling was discovered during a routine inspection on Sept. 25. 

Thirty of the more than 700 rods were replaced; 28 in the Honolulu bound direction and two in the Kaneohe bound direction.