Emergency lava evacuation routes expected to be completed Saturday
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARADVERTISER.COM
Construction crews worked today on creating an evacuation route on Chain Of Craters Road in Volcanoes National Park.
Work on an alternate emergency route through Chain of Craters-Kalapana Road that began on Wednesday is expected to be completed for emergency use on Saturday, according to state officials.
The route linking the town of Kalapana to Highway 11 serves as an evacuation route through Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park should Highway 130 be cut off by lava.
>> Lava crosses Highway 137, limits access to Kapoho, Vacationland
>> Leilani Estates evacuee dies by apparent suicide
>> Big Isle mayor envisions ‘whole new community’ for Puna
>> Hawaii island resident smashes pickup into hardened lava
>> Allegedly intoxicated man arrested after crashing into hardened lava
>> Arrests possible for Leilani Estates holdouts
>> Leilani Estates lava might not be part of the eruption that began in 1983
>> Kau residents irritated by ashfall from volcano
>> Puna man ‘just wanted to live’ after nearly losing leg to lava bomb
RELATED PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
>> Live webcams from Hawaii island
>> Emergency lava route through Chain of Craters-Kalapana Road nearly complete, June 1
>> Changes occurring within Halemaumau crater, June 1
>> Pyroclasts inundate Leilani Estates as lava continues to flow, May 31
>> Hawaii Army National Guard Major Jeff Hickman provides an update, May 31
>> Leilani Estates residents talk about evacuating as lava advances, May 31
>> Hawaii Fire Department tracks lava from the air, May 30
>> Aerial view of lava flow in Leilani Estates, May 29
>> No break over holiday weekend for Kilauea, May 28
COMPLETE KILAUEA COVERAGE
>> Star-Advertiser volcano coverage
>> Kilauea Volcano YouTube playlist
Another alternate emergency route, the Pahoa-Kalapana Detour, offers a way around Highway 130. The detour traverses through three acres of Sanford’s Service Center property north of Kamaili Road/Opihikao Drive and connects with the county-owned Alaili Road. It should also be ready for emergency use on Saturday
Don't miss out on what's happening!
Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE!
“We are grateful to Sanford’s Service Center for their kokua in preparing this alternate route for their neighbors in Puna,” said Hawaii Department of Transportation director Jade Butay in a news release. “This really shows the aloha and community spirit present in Puna as we all work together for those affected by the latest Kilauea eruption.”
The two alternate routes are for emergency use only. Highway 130 remains open and HDOT and Hawaii County continue to monitor temperature and gas levels along this roadway.
