HILO, Hawaii — The state will receive $33 million in federal funding to rehabilitate the aging Wailuku River Bridge on Hawaii Island, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, announced on Friday.

“Upgrading aging infrastructure is critical to ensuring people can get around safely for years to come,” said Schatz, chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation. “Making these necessary upgrades to the Wailuku River Bridge will result in less disruptions and safer commutes for people on Hawaii Island.”

The rehabilitation will include reinforcement of the bridge’s foundation, widening to bring the bridge into compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility standards, and an upgrade to its railings to meet current safety standards.

Located on Hawaii Belt Road in Hilo, between Waianuenue Avenue and Pukihae Street, the so-called Singing Bridge has been the subject of substantial emergency repair in recent years.

The bridge was closed for nearly three weeks last year for emergency work. During the repairs, additional “bridge element degradation” was discovered, requiring weight- and speed-limit reductions and a detour route while further work was completed.

The state Department of Transportation also made interim repairs to the bridge in 2019 and 2020.

The original Wailuku River Bridge was built in 1910 by Hilo Railroad Co. but was destroyed by an earthquake. The current bridge has been in place since 1950.

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