The state Department of Transportation’s decision to shut down the bridge connecting northern Wahiawa to the North Shore around the clock for about six weeks starting Monday has raised concerns from leaders in both communities.
Beginning Monday, the 80-year-old Karsten Thot Bridge on the north side of Wahiawa town will be closed for repairs for about six weeks, the department announced Thursday. Two-way traffic that normally flows on Kamehameha Highway through Wahiawa Town and across the bridge will be redirected along Wilikina Drive and Kamananui Road.
The bridge and Kamehameha Highway between Kilani and Whitmore avenues will be closed at midnight Sunday.
State transportation spokeswoman Caroline Sluyter said an inspection this summer found the bridge is in need of repair.
“It’s basically rust and weather-related deterioration,” she said.
State officials have been restricting the bridge to passenger vehicles and lowered the maximum vehicular weight to 10 tons from 20 tons.
Sluyter said some vehicles have not observed the restrictions, contributing to the decision to close the bridge entirely during repairs.
North Shore Neighborhood Board Chairman Mike Lyons and Wahiawa Neighborhood Board member Robert Lormand said they found out about the six-week closure Wednesday night.
Lyons said the short notification period may mean a good share of out-of-towners intending to visit the North Shore might never get there. “It’s going to be such a mess, they’re not going to know where they’re going,” he said, adding that he hopes DOT will put up adequate signage.
Lormand said the closure will affect Wahiawa businesses since many people stop for food or coffee between Honolulu and the North Shore. “They aren’t going to do that anymore because they’re going to have to backtrack (to access the detour),” he said.
All vehicles traveling between the North Shore and Honolulu will have to go on Wilikina Drive along the northern border of Schofield Barracks.
That may be difficult during the times when Schofield workers change shifts, Lormand said.
Lyons suggested that transportation officials lengthen the signal time along Wilikina to accommodate the additional traffic.
The two men said they are also worried that emergency vehicles will be delayed when the bridge is closed.
Lormand said police cars, firetrucks and ambulances originating from Wahiawa might take longer to get to emergencies, especially to Whitmore Village north of Wahiawa.
Capt. Terry Seelig, Honolulu Fire Department spokesman, said HFD vehicles stopped using Karsten Thot Bridge on Thursday.
“We are starting this restriction now as it is the most prudent course of action for the safety of responders and to ensure that we can sustain our services,” Seelig said. “HFD can make response adjustments that address the restrictions imposed by the bridge’s closure.
“Obviously there will be a delay in our arrival north of Wahiawa as we have now added a few miles to our current route. We are looking at response travel times and will make dispatch decisions for our stations that provide the quickest response.”
Seelig noted that emergency responders from the North Shore and Wahiawa respond to calls in Whitmore Village.
Sluyter said transportation officials realize the inconvenience that the rerouting will cause and appreciate the public’s understanding. She said the six-week, 24/7 closure is necessary to allow repairs to be completed as quickly as possible.
