State cuts 2 tons off weight
limit on Kauai’s rusty
Wainiha Bridge

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By Anthony Sommer
tsommer@starbulletin.com

LIHUE >> The load limit on the badly deteriorated Wainiha Bridge on Kauai's north shore was lowered to 6 tons from 8 tons yesterday by the state Highways Division.

The Kauai Fire Department and Verizon expressed concerns that they may not be able to comply with the lower limit in the event of an emergency at night. While permits for larger loads will be available if trucks meet state specifications, they will require time to be processed.

The Fire Department's pumper truck stationed at Princeville already is emptied before crossing the bridge to reduce weight.

The bridge is only three miles from the end of Kuhio Highway at Kee Beach, a popular visitor destination. It is crossed by more than 2,000 tourist rental cars daily and is the only route for construction vehicles.

Contractors expressed concern that delivery of materials for the many new homes being built in the area would have to be spread over many smaller trucks, increasing costs.

At an informational meeting yesterday, highway officials showed photographs of major portions of the bridge that have rusted away. They also showed pictures of a dump truck and cement truck much heavier than the old weight limit crossing the bridge.

The single-lane bridge is a Bailey Bridge, designed by the British Army during World War II to be easily erected in combat areas. It was installed in Wainiha in the mid-1950s as a temporary replacement for the older bridge that was destroyed by a tsunami.

District Highway Engineer Steve Kyono said it could take anywhere from five to 20 years to build a new bridge at Wainiha.