HONOLULU— The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) has begun debris and tree removal on Round Top Drive, as part of a joint State-City and County of Honolulu project to repair and reopen the road which has remained closed since multiple landslides in March.
“Over the past few months since the landslides, the DLNR, the City and County of Honolulu, State Civil Defense and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have had several meetings to coordinate planning and activities in order to work in collaboration to address this issue with an emergency appropriation,” said Peter Young, DLNR chairperson.
Starting Thursday July 20, DLNR began Phase 1 of its Round Top Drive project which will involve:
1. removing the debris and erosion material on the roadway (July 20-July 28)
2. removing fallen trees and/or trees posing a possible hazard and/or in the way of construction (July 31-Aug. 11)
3. cutting a portion of the eroded slope back and installing temporary concrete jersey barriers (Aug. 14-25)
Once these steps are completed the City will repair the damaged areas of the roadway (4 sections will be repaired) – approximate schedule is Sept. 1-Oct. 31. The City will then determine if the repaired Round Top Drive can be opened for public use.
After the City has completed its roadway repair of Round Top Drive, DLNR will return to implement Phase 2 of its work, to provide a more permanent slope stabilization in the area as well as to re-vegetate/landscape the slope. Details and schedule are pending.
DLNR’s Phase 2 may require some temporary roadway closures, or the contractor will be required to keep at least one-lane of the roadway open and provide the necessary traffic control to allow for continuous access.
DLNR has provided notice of its construction schedule to the Honolulu Police Department, Honolulu Fire Department and Emergency Medical Service, as well as the City’s Departments of Design and Construction, Facility Maintenance and Transportation Services, and to the Tantalus Neighborhood Board.
Heavy rains caused a landslide March 22, 2006 in the 2800 block of Round Top Drive at about 2:30 a.m. The landslide affected 100 feet of roadway and left a pile of dirt about 6 feet high. The road was closed until about 9 a.m.
On March 24, thundershowers caused a huge mudslide on Round Top Drive, forcing the closure of the roadway, the fourth in as many days. A week later, on March 31, a severe landslide brought down mud and black sand that covered the roadway more than 3 feet deep.
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For more information, contact:
Deborah Ward
DLNR Public Information Specialist
Phone: (808) 587-0320
