A $1.3 million emergency repair project on the Wilson Tunnel finished even earlier than expected and Lifelike Highway reopened in both directions this afternoon, the Department of Transportation announced.

Crews finished removing concrete barriers and water-filled barriers in the Honolulu-bound direction of the tunnel this afternoon and reopened both lanes. The work had been scheduled to take until 4 a.m. Thursday.

Damage to some of the stainless steel rods that help support the tunnel ceiling was discovered during a routine inspection on Sept. 25. 

Thirty of the more than 700 rods were replaced; 28 in the Honolulu bound direction and two in the Kaneohe bound direction.