Kailua-bound lanes of Pali Highway reopen after trees cleared
COURTESY HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
These photos show the debris from a large tree that fell onto the roadway, prompting state Department of Transportation crews to close the Kailua-bound lanes of Pali Highway.
UPDATE: 6:30 a.m.
The Kailua-bound lanes of the Pali Highway have reopened after crews scaled and removed three loads of trees and rock debris.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE
State transportation officials have closed both Kailua-bound lanes of the Pali Highway overnight to allow crews to scale the mountainside and remove several trees in the wake of a landslide that left a large tree on the highway.
The work to remove at least five trees began at about 9 p.m. and will continue through the night, according to the state Department of Transportation.
Motorists will be turned around at Waokanaka Street, said officials, who advised motorists to take Likelike, H-3 or Kalanianaole as an alternative route to get to Windward Oahu.
A large tree fell onto the roadway before 4:30 p.m. Monday, officials said, closing the Kailua-bound lanes from Waokanaka to the Pali off-ramp. One lane had been reopened later in the evening but has since been closed for the overnight work.
DOT said in an earlier tweet that its crews were assessing the hillside on Kailua side of “the second tunnel” following the landslide.
