Hanapepe bridge to close

The Hanapepe Town Bridge on Kauai will be closed for painting next week from Tuesday to Friday. Work will be done from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Westbound motorists on Hanapepe Road will be redirected to Iona Road and Kaumualii Highway. Those heading east will be rerouted to Puolo Road and Kaumualii Highway. The 100th anniversary of the completion of the bridge will be celebrated March 19.

H-1 lanes to close for maintenance

H-1 Freeway eastbound lanes near the 19th Avenue overpass will be closed this weekend and for a night next month for maintenance.

From 9 p.m. Sunday through 2 a.m. Monday, the two left eastbound lanes between the Koko Head Avenue offramp and Ainakoa Avenue will be closed for inspection of the pedestrian overpass. All ramps will be open, state Department of Transportation officials said in a release.

All eastbound lanes in the same location will be closed from 9 p.m. March 6 through 2 a.m. the next day so state crews can patch concrete on the overpass. Drivers can take the Koko Head Avenue offramp as an alternative route. Some of the lanes will be closed from 2 to 4 a.m. March 7 as well.

Various lanes will be closed in the same area from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m., March 7 through 11.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Poipu erosion to be studied

The state and county governments and an organization are funding a sand restoration study for Poipu Beach, which has a high rate of erosion, Kauai County officials said yesterday.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority is contributing $75,000; Po’ipu Beach Foundation, $50,000; and Kauai County, $182,558.

"What has been presented to the Council is a plan that manages the vision and value of our community in Poipu," said County Council Chairman Jay Furfaro. "It is a model that can inspire and motivate entire communities. It promotes a sense of place as well as good stewardship. We are very appreciative of the collaboration."

Sea Engineering Inc., a coastal engineering firm headquartered in Honolulu, was awarded a $307,558 contract to conduct the study, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2012.

Kauai groups get $530,000

Kauai County says six Garden Island agencies are receiving more than a half-million dollars in federal grant money to prevent underage drinking.

The Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii is receiving $125,000 for a fitness program targeting teenagers that integrates physical activity with alcohol and substance abuse prevention.

Kauai Economic Opportunity is getting $125,000 for a program to help Kapaa Middle School students increase their self-esteem and develop healthy attitudes.

The county said Tuesday the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration is providing the grants through the state Department of Health’s alcohol drug abuse division.

Alu Like, Circles of Light, Hale Kipa and the Young Women’s Christian Association of Kauai also received grant money. Altogether, the six Kauai groups got about $530,000.