DOT to remove unstable rocks above Kalanianaole Highway in East Oahu

STAR-ADVERTISER / 2013
State transportation officials plan to remove an unstable, rocky outcropping above Kalanianaole Highway between the Lanai and Halona Blowhole lookouts. A car is seen in this file photo traveling west on a stretch of the highway approaching Lanai Lookout.
UPDATE: 1:20 p.m.
Hawaii Department of Transportation officials said Kalanianaole Highway between Lunalilo Home Road and Kealahou Street in East Oahu will be closed Monday night for emergency work on the slope above the highway.
DOT officials said they plan to remove roughly 100 cubic yards of unstable material from a rocky outcropping over a section of the highway between the Lanai and Halona Blowhole lookouts. DOT engineers have surveyed the slope and determined it needs to be removed to prevent rockfall and injury, they said.
DOT said a resident expressed concerns about the area after heavy rain fell late last month.
The closure is planned from 8 p.m. Monday until 5 a.m. Tuesday, and traffic will be detoured around Kalanianaole Highway using Kealahou Street, Hawaii Kai Drive, and Lunalilo Home Road.
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The Hawaii Department of Transportation is holding a virtual public meeting at noon today about its intent to declare a traffic emergency zone on a section of Kalanianaole Highway — between the Lanai and Halona lookouts.
DOT officials say they plan to remove a rocky outcropping over that section of the highway in East Honolulu after a resident expressed concerns about it following heavy rains last month. DOT engineers have surveyed the slope and determined it needs to be removed to prevent rockfall and injury.
The public meeting is required within 24 hours of the designation, DOT said.
“A traffic emergency zone declaration will allow HDOT to expedite procurement and permitting to take action to construct improvements to protect access to the state highway,” department officials said in a news release. “Anyone wishing to comment on the designation of Kalanianaole Highway between Lanai Lookout and Halona Lookout as a traffic emergency zone may do so through a virtual public meeting to be conducted within 24 hours of the designation.”
To join the meeting on Microsoft Teams at noon today, click this link Opens in a new tabor call 808-829-4853 using conference pin 988 557 873#.