As emergency repairs continue to take place on the Kolekole and Nanue Bridges in North Hilo, the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT) is reminding the public of the temporary 12-ton (24,000 pound) posted weight limits for these structures. The weight limits were set out of caution.
HDOT will continue to verify vehicle documentation to ensure vehicles may safely cross Kolekole and Nanue bridges without compromising their structural integrity.
The weight restriction has no effect on regular passenger vehicles, but can impact emergency vehicles, buses and tractor trailers. HDOT has coordinated with Hawaiʻi county emergency response and public transit agencies on access to these areas for their vehicles. Tractor trailer drivers must have weight information that accurately represents their load available, or they may not be allowed access to the bridges.
Further repairs that will return the bridges to unposted loads are scheduled as follows:
Kolekole Emergency Repair
Estimated opening to all traffic: June 2022
Estimated Construction Cost – $ 8 million
Nanue Emergency Repair
Estimated opening to all traffic: May 2022
Estimated Construction Cost – $ 350,000
HDOT will continue to update on the status of the repairs to the Kolekole and Nanue Bridges through news releases and social media posts. To sign up for HDOT releases, visit https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/hidot/subscriber/new.
