County to Close More of Kamehameha Avenue Thursday

Traffic near Hilo’s bayfront already snarled by a road renovation project is about to get worse.

The Department of Public Works said the renovation of Kamehameha Avenue will enter a new phase Thursday as work is extended further down the busy road.

The two-lane portion of Kamehameha closed will be extended from Pauahi Street to the canoe parking lot near the former Hilo Ironworks.

The blue line shows the portion of Kamehameha Avenue already closed for construction; the red line shows the additional portion to be closed beginning Thursday (click to enlarge).

That means the mauka section of the roadway from Ponahawai Sreet to near the Wailoa Bridge will be reduced to a single lane of travel in each direction.

The extension of the construction area will also require changes to the intersection of Pauahi Street and Kamehameha. In addition, pedestrians will need to use the sidewalk on the mauka side of Kamehameha.

Motorists unable to find alternate routes are being advised to expect traffic delays.

The project which began in early March has already required changes to traffic involving the Bayfront Highway.