Lane shifts expected on Pauahi Street

Drivers can expect lane shifts on Pauahi Street in Hilo as workers begin demolishing and replacing the Pauahi Street Bridge.

Phase 1 of the Pauahi Street Bridge project has closed two lanes that are used for traffic traveling toward Hilo Bay. The two lanes normally used for drivers traveling toward Kilauea Avenue are being used for both directions of traffic.

Contractor Jas. W. Glover Ltd. will be working on this project between 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m each weekday.

According to the Hawaii County Department of Public Works, the estimated completion of the $3.5 million project will be sometime in the first quarter of 2025.

The DPW project ultimately will construct an entirely new bridge after demolishing the existing bridge deck, railings, pavement, sidewalk and waterline. During the construction period, parking will not be permitted on either side of Pauahi Street between its intersections with Aupuni Street and Kamehameha Avenue.

Phase 1 will continue to have the same traffic pattern with vehicle lane shifts and another road closure later next month. Phase 2 will close the other two lanes, but the lane shifts and road closures will be similar.