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.
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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
“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.
