Reed’s Island Bridge (Photo courtesy of County of Hawaii)

MEDIA RELEASE

The Reed’s Island Bridge Structural Rehabilitation project in South Hilo will bring the bridge into compliance with today’s load capacity standards.

The $6.4 million project was awarded to ABHE & Svoboda, Inc.

The wooden deck will be replaced with steel beams and a steel grating deck. Concrete rock anchors and micro piles will be installed to strengthen and increase load-bearing capacity. Lateral structural steel bracing members will be installed enabling the bridge to meet earthquake code requirements.

The Federal Highway Administration ill fund 80 percent of the cost. The county share is 20 percent.

Construction is scheduled to begin early fall of this year.

Kaiminani Drive improvements

This federally funded project in North Kona begins 103 feet from the intersection with Highway 190 and ends at AhiAhi Street.

Jas W. Glover Ltd was awarded the $10 million improvement project.

Improvements will focus on roadway reconstruction, and drainage improvements that include six-foot shoulders, tie-ins to private driveways on Kaiminani, retaining walls, and restriping of the roadway.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is paying 80 percent of the construction cost and the county will kick in the other 20 percent.

Construction is anticipated to begin this fall and is expected to be completed in 2013.