PHOTO, VIDEO UPDATE: Puna District Road Closes Due to Damage

https://www.facebook.com/BigIslandNow/videos/1643387732405436/?t=2

VC: BIN, May 3, 2018

UPDATE: May 3, 2018, 12:40 p.m.

The Hawai‘i County Department of Public Works reports the section of Pāhoa-Pohoiki Road between Highway 132 (Kapoho Road) and Leilani Avenue is now open in both directions. Metal plates are now in place covering damaged pavement. Area residents said the crack gradually widened enough that a “car could fall in it.”

Metal plates covers a crack that formed yesterday, May 2, 2018, on Pāhoa-Pohoiki Road between Highway 132 (Kapoho Road) and Leilani Avenue.

However, a Big Island Now reporter in the area said most of the roads in the Leilani subdivision are cracked.

Most of the roads in the Leilani subdivision are cracked. May 3, 2018. PC:CIN

ORIGINAL POST: May 3, 7:13 a.m.

Puna District residents reported to Hawaiian Volcanos Observatory geologists on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, the recent appearance of ground cracks on a couple of roads in and around Leilani Estates.

Hawai‘i County and the U.S Geological Survey inspected the area “road by road,” according to area resident Kimberly Campbell Jordan.

No steaming or heat were observed to originate from the cracks, and the cracks are currently still small (no more than several inches across).

These cracks result from deformation of the ground surface due to the underlying intrusion of magma.

Earthquake activity remains elevated in this area due to the ongoing, underground intrusion.

The Hawai‘i Civil Defense issued a Road Closure Message for Wednesday, May 2, 2018, at 9:30 p.m.

The Hawai‘i County Department of Public Works reports the section of Pāhoa-Pohoiki Road between Highway 132 (Kapoho Road) and Leilani Avenue in Leilani Estates, Puna District, is closed in both directions due to road damage.

Detours through Highway 132 and Leilani Avenue are in place.

Other cracks within Leilani Estates have also been reported.

Area motorists are advised to be on the alert for roadway damage.

https://www.facebook.com/ikaika.marzo/videos/1789800837739111/?t=16

VC: Ikaika Marzo, May 2, 2018, Kalapana Cultural Tours

Puna District subdivisions and main highways. MC: hiloagent.com

Road closed at Kahukai Street and Leilani Avenue in Leilani Estates as a precaution after cracks were found on the road. PC: Mike Enriquez

Crack starting on Kahukai Street in Leilani Estates on May 2, 2018. PC: Kimberly Campbell Jordan

Cracks have developed on a couple of roads in and around Leilani Estates. May 2, 2018. PC: U.S. Geological Survey

MC: Councilwoman Jennifer Ruggles