Plans to rehabilitate the Waikaumalo Stream Bridge on the Hamakua Coast are moving forward following a review by the Hawaii County Cultural Resources Commission.
Built in 1952, the bridge has deteriorated over time and requires extensive repairs to maintain safety and structural integrity.
According to Shelly Kunishige, spokesperson for the state Department of Transportation, the preliminary project budget is estimated at $45 million.
Located in the North Hilo district south of Ninole, the Waikaumalo Stream Bridge crosses Waikaumalo Stream and provides access to Waikaumalo Park, a popular spot for picnics and scenic views. Known for its picturesque timber design, the bridge serves as an important link along the Hawaii Belt Road.
According to a DOT bridge inspection, the rehabilitation will include repairing, replacing and repainting deteriorated steel members; fixing spalls, cracks and delamination in the abutments, piers, concrete deck, sidewalk and railings; and replacing deck joints and seals.
Crews also will evaluate and rehabilitate the concrete rubble masonry wingwall, address spalling on pier caps, and replace or repair bridge bearings.
If scour issues are discovered during inspection, footing upgrades and other countermeasures might be implemented, requiring limited in-water work. Other deteriorated elements identified during field studies will also be repaired or replaced as needed.
The bridge deck may be widened slightly to accommodate Americans with Disabilities Act–compliant sidewalks, though the widening will not add lanes or increase capacity. Railings will be replaced to meet current safety standards.
Most construction will occur during daytime hours, with one lane of contraflow traffic maintained. Full bridge closures and some night work may be required when replacing bridge bearings to reduce traffic disruptions.
The project’s area covers about 3.8 acres, primarily within the Hawaii Belt Road right-of-way. Two parcels mauka of the highway will also be used for construction staging and to access the bridge foundations. Limited vegetation clearing may be necessary to allow equipment and material access.
Although the bridge is not listed on the National or State Registers of Historic Places, the Cultural Resources Commission expressed concerns about the potential for undiscovered cultural resources in the area.
A 1990 State Historic Preservation Division review noted the possibility of archaeological remains associated with historic irrigated taro cultivation. Commissioners emphasized that the absence of documented cultural sites does not mean the corridor is free of significant cultural resources.
Commissioners also pointed to coconut trees, freshwater sources and nearby gulches as indicators of traditional Hawaiian land use, possibly including lo‘i cultivation. They recommended additional research into nearby ahupua‘a place names and outreach to descendants of Filipino and Chinese plantation workers who once lived in the area to provide historical and cultural context.
Environmental considerations also are being reviewed, including potential impacts on the endangered Hawaiian hoary bat and native bird species. The commission has requested lead soil sampling beneath the bridge, with remediation required if contamination is found.
Environmental permitting for the project is expected to continue through spring 2026, with final design completion anticipated in fall 2026. Construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2027 and conclude by summer 2028.
Email Daniel Farr at dfarr@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
