WAILUA, Hawaii — The Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife announced on Tuesday that the Wailua Forest Management Road, also known as Loop Road, in Lihue-Koloa Forest Reserve will remain closed through the end of the year due to extensive storm damage.

What You Need To Know

  • The road was initially damaged by flooding in 2018 and subsequent heavy rains have exacerbated conditions to the point that the area is considered hazardous and impassable

  • The state Legislature appropriated $2 million that, in combination with other funding, is to be used for forest road and crossing repairs

  • Work on the so-called Queensland Crossing or Third Crossing was scheduled to begin this summer but April storms “drastically altered” the stream channel, necessitating a new design for repair, according to DOFAW

  • Dependent on weather and permitting, the repair project is expected to be done by the end of December. Loop Road will remain closed until all work is completed

Flooding in 2018 and subsequent heavy rains damaged and exacerbated the road's conditions to the point that the area is considered hazardous and impassable.

The state Legislature appropriated $2 million, which, in combination with other funding, will be used for forest road and crossing repairs. 

Work on the so-called Queensland Crossing or Third Crossing was scheduled to begin this summer. Still, the April storms "drastically altered" the stream channel, necessitating a new design for repair, according to DOFAW.

The new design will require a new hydrological survey and additional permits, which is expected to push back the start of repairs by several months.

DLNR has a contract to perform repairs along some portions of Loop Road, the recently damaged Second Crossing and the Queensland Crossing. Repairs on 4.5 miles of road past the crossings will also be conducted by DOFAW.

The repair project is expected to be completed by the end of December, depending on weather and permitting. Loop Road will remain closed until all work is completed.

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.