Utility Excavation on Kawaihau Road Begins; Expect Weekday Delays
The Kauaʻi County Department of Water and contractor Hawaiian Dredging began utility and excavation work Oct. 29 on Kawaihau Road between Kaʻaʺpuni Road and Kapahi Road, with weekday one-lane traffic controls in place from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The project runs through Dec. 22, weather permitting, and residents should plan for delays and parking restrictions in work zones.
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Utility and excavation work managed by the Kauaʻi County Department of Water and carried out by Hawaiian Dredging began Oct. 29 on a stretch of Kawaihau Road from Kaʻaʺpuni Road to Kapahi Road. The county announced weekday lane reductions and traffic controls to accommodate crews and equipment, with the work window scheduled weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and continuing through Dec. 22, weather permitting.
During work hours, one-lane traffic controls will be used to maintain traffic flow through the work zone. Property access will be preserved for residents and businesses along the corridor, but parking within active work zones is prohibited. Motorists are advised to expect delays and to obey traffic control measures around the work site.
The involvement of the Department of Water indicates the work is part of county-managed utility activity, although the county has described the operations broadly as utility and excavation work. The contractor for the project is Hawaiian Dredging, which is coordinating daily operations and traffic staging with county staff. Residents with immediate concerns or questions can contact Hawaiian Dredging at 808-397-9627 or the Department of Water at 808-245-5411.
The schedule and traffic controls carry direct consequences for daily routines across eastern Kauaʻi. Commuters traveling between Kapahi and surrounding communities should allow extra travel time during the weekday work window, and businesses that rely on customer parking or deliveries along Kawaihau Road may need to adjust operations while crews are present. Although property access will be maintained, the no-parking restriction in work zones reduces available curbside spaces and could affect short-term deliveries and visitors.
The county’s public notice of the work provides a defined timeline that gives residents and local institutions an opportunity to plan, but the project remains weather-dependent. Rain or adverse conditions could extend construction days beyond the current Dec. 22 end date, making monitoring of official updates important. Residents concerned about specific impacts to access, noise, timing, or emergency response routes are encouraged to contact the Department of Water or Hawaiian Dredging to raise those issues so the county can address operational adjustments.
For now, the key practical steps for residents are to plan for weekday delays between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., avoid parking in posted work zones, and follow traffic control instructions when passing through Kawaihau Road between Kaʻaʺpuni Road and Kapahi Road. The county and contractor contact numbers for project information and concerns are Hawaiian Dredging, 808-397-9627, and the Department of Water, 808-245-5411.
