The state Department of Transportation reversed itself and says it will cancel H-1 freeway construction during this weekend’s University of Hawaii football game at Aloha Stadium.

The DOT put out a news release Wednesday saying that construction would affect traffic around the UH football game Saturday, urging people to use the Moanalua Freeway.

But at about 1:30 p.m., the state put out another news release saying the construction would be canceled this weekend.

Roadwork on the H-1 freeway Airport Viaduct Deck Repair Project would have closed the right lane in the town-bound direction between the Radford Drive overpass and the airport off-ramp exit from 9 p.m. Friday through 3 p.m. Sunday.

Speed limits through the work zone area would have been reduced to 15 mph in order to reduce traffic vibrations that may lead to cracking in the newly repaired deck, the Department of Transportation said.

The freeway on-ramp from Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam now be open, as will lanes on Nimitz Highway in the town-bound direction below the work area.

The project involves replacing about 94,000 square feet of concrete on the viaduct. Weakened portions of the concrete deck will be removed and replaced with a fast-setting concrete, and sealed with a concrete overlay. Roadwork also includes expansion joint repairs and pavement striping. 

Kick-off for Saturday’s game against the University of Washington is at 4:30 p.m. Upper and lower Halawa parking lots will open at 11:30 a.m. and other gates will open at 12:30 p.m.

This will not be the only weekend that the viaduct construction will coincide with freeway lane closures.

The state did not say if work on the viaduct will coincide with other UH football games.