Mudslide on the Pali to cost state $100,000

Last week's mudslide at Pali Highway could cost the state up to $100,000.

State Transportation Director Rod Haraga said the state and its contractor, Tajiri Lumber, are still tallying taxpayer costs from the mudslide, which shut down Pali Highway near the tunnels after heavy rain Nov. 1.

"There is still some re-striping that needs to be incorporated into the costs, but under $100,000 is about right in terms of preliminary costs," said Haraga, adding that most of the costs went toward labor and equipment.

Dozens of workers worked last week to clear mudslide debris off the road. Honolulu-bound lanes were hit hardest. About 80 truckloads of dirt, mud, rocks and trees were removed, and the work is not done yet, Haraga said.

"We're going to plant some quick-rooting vegetation so we can hold that slope in place," Haraga said. "For now, our engineering geologists tell us the slope is stable, unless we have another waterfall to cut through the slope."

The state Transportation Department has a 4-year-old statewide rockfall mitigation plan it will be revisiting and updating as a result of last week's mudslides.

Part of that plan would include revisiting the other side of the tunnels headed toward Kailua, which suffered a smaller mudslide that stalled traffic.

The mudslide occurred on Kalanianaole Highway between Castle Junction and Kapaa Quarry Road.