Our Friend of the Path Richard Sugiyama continues to provide historical perspectives on the construction of Ke Ala Hele Makalae over the years. The quarter-mile long Bridge Phase—part of the planned two-mile connection starting at Lydgate Park and following the coast to Lihi Park—is about to be completed.

 

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May 2011 Update
The opening is tentatively set for May 31, 2011

The multi-use path portion has been completed as far as the decking over the cantilevered portion of the new bridge.

|The fiberglass railings are about to be installed. Note sugarcane theme.

The rock veneer both above and below the walkway appears complete.

This is at the north side of the bridge, looking north from the parking lot driveway towards the Kuhio/Kuamoo intersection. For the "Bridge Phase" of this State Department of Transportation project, the path presently terminates at the traffic signal.

Looking south from the same point, this is what you'll see as you approach the bridge.
(Mr. Sugiyama then crossed the river to photograph the north-bound approach.)

As you leave the Kuhio/Leho/hotel intersection, the path looks the same except for new landscaping and the safety barrier wall to the left, between the path and the highway.

The old path termination (the loop) is still there, but newly landscaped with (future) interpretive signs.

But now you approach the new section. Note the gecko graphics on both sides of the pathway.

Then you near Wailua Bay rounding the bend in the road...

And head on over the bridge.

Here are a couple more photos, though not related specifically to the bridge work.

The ponds at Lydgate Park are almost ready for opening as well, with higher rock walls and deeper bottoms.

And the Pavilion was having its roof constructed so should soon be weather-tight underneath.

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Garden Island Arts Council President Carol Yotsuda contributed the following image and comments:

May 21, 2011, Lydgate Park—Went to see how the Kamalani pavilion was coming along—the foreman in charge of the construction who came to my studio to look at the murals has framed the spaces for the nine completed murals. 

The sections with the plywood (6) are for the last ones that will be done in August.  The open sections are where the nine finished murals will go.

They [the contractor] have to do the roofing materials next and plaster all the cement walls...lots to do yet.

     — Carol Yotsuda, lead on the Kamalani Pavilion Rebuild Art Panels project.

  

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Coastal Path Progress—Lydgate Park to Lihi Park, March 2011
New estimated completion near June 2011

All of the Acrow sections have been installed and construction equipment is utilizing it to complete the bridge, though the final surface isn't there. Currently only the motor vehicle lanes are done and the bicycle & pedestrian section will be cantilevered further out on the makai side. These two photos (above and below) show each end of the bridge where, off in the distance, you can see metal braces aligned with the concrete foundations.

 

A closer look at the north end (above) where one cantilever brace is installed. The concrete foundation next to it is where the pedestrian portion will continue to slope down toward street level.

This sloped section (above) has its foundation structurally finished and the lava rock veneer is being attached. Forms are being placed for the surface section of concrete.

This view (above) is looking south from the completed driveway of the parking lot at the Kuamoo Road intersection. Note the gecko impressions on the left piece of concrete. Reinforcing bars are wired in ready for the concrete pour to complete the surface between the driveway and Acrow bridge.

Looking north from the same driveway (above), the path jogs left to run alongside Kuhio Highway. The vertical rebars on the left are for the concrete guardrail between the highway and the path.

 

 

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December 2010
Happy Holidays!
New estimated completion near June 2011

An overlook view of the bridge construction from the south.

 

From the south shore of Wailua River you can see that the structural Acrow sections have been completed over the river to the north bank.

 

All of the exposed concrete surfaces will be covered with lava rock veneer enhancing the look of the bridge. 

 

The road surface planks are being installed over the Acrow sections. At the time of these photos, approximately half of the bridge is covered.

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October 2010

From the front page of the October 6 issue of The Garden Island newspaper.

 

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August 2010

 

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The most noticeable item completed is the crossing at the driveway entrance to the southern end of Wailua Beach. This is looking north with Kuhio Highway to the left and the ocean to the right.

Looking south toward the river and bridge construction.

Right now, it's hard to imagine what the path will look like leading up to the "train bridge."

Gecko images have been cast into the edges of the crossing.

Sub-surface drilling is still going on. There is no hard foundation or path surface here yet.

 The view from the beach up the Wailua River under the bridge.

It appears concrete pouring forms are being built at the ends of the cantilever supports.

This photo was taken looking south between the two bridges. Off in the distance on the opposite bank you can see the remains of an old concrete footing from the first bridge that crossed Wailua River.
 

 

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SPRING-2010

From the southern (Lihue) side of Wailua River, the concrete is being poured where the highway "bends" to line up with the bridge.

Braces have been added to each side of the narrow bridge so that wider, pre-stressed concrete planks will be supported. The original planks had to be changed to accommodate 2 vehicular lanes and the path.

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