Both lanes of Highway 19 were reopened late Monday night following the replacement of a utility pole and lines east of Waimea, police reported at 11:14 p.m. Monday.
The work was required after a tractor-trailer sheered off the pole near the 54-mile marker early Monday.
***Updated at 6:10 p.m.***
Ongoing work to repair utility lines on Highway 19 near Waimea was expected to continue to delay traffic through the area until around 9 p.m., police said.
A utility pole was sheered by a tractor-trailor just after 7 a.m., said Capt. Aimee Wana of the Waimea police station.
The preliminary cause of the accident was malfunctioning equipment, she said.
No one was injured, but the accident prompted the closure of both lanes of the highway for several hours, and the closing of one lane throughout the day.
The second lane was not expected to be reopened for about three hours, police said at 5:44 p.m.
The accident occurred on the eastern side of Waimea near Puu Nani Drive.
Posted at 9:30 a.m.:
A traffic accident this morning on Highway 19 near the 55-mile marker – between Iokua Place and Puu Nani Drive, just east of the Mana Road intersection – has resulted in an extended closure of the highway.
Although one lane has been reopened, traffic delays on the highway are expected to continue for up to eight hours, police said in an update issued shortly before 10 a.m.
Motorists are being advised to expect significant delays and to use alternate routes if possible.
The accident that occurred before 8 a.m. left an utility pole and electrical wires on the roadway.
Traffic was temporarily detoured south of the highway on Mana Road and Mealani Road.
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