Work on emergency roads nearly complete

Work is nearly complete on an emergency road through private property in lower Puna.

The route would traverse three acres of Sanfords Service Center Inc. property north of Kamaili Road/Opihikao Drive and connect with the county-owned Alaili Road, which connects to Highway 130, according to the state Department of Transportation.

The department said the route is expected to be ready for emergency use Saturday.

Meanwhile, grading and levelling of Chain of Craters evacuation route also is expected to be completed Saturday, HDOT said.

Preparation of Chain of Craters-Kalapana Road for use as an evacuation route through Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, should Highway 130 be cut off by lava, began Wednesday.

“We are grateful to Sanfords Service Center for their kokua in preparing this alternate route for their neighbors in Puna,” said Hawaii Department of Transportation Director Jade Butay. “This really shows the aloha and community spirit present in Puna as we all work together for those affected by the latest Kilauea eruption.”