Landslide blocks Akoni Pule Highway in North Kohala

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Landslide blocks lanes on Akoni Pule Highway (Courtesy of Hawaii Department of Transportation)
One lane blocked on Highway 19 at mile marker 3.8 (Courtesy of Hawaii Department of Transportation)
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KAILUA-KONA — Road conditions have deteriorated throughout the night as Hurricane Lane continues its path past Hawaii Island.

The state Department of Transportation posted photos on Facebook of a landslide this morning blocking both lanes on Akoni Pule Highway, or Highway 270, at mile marker 25 on the Pololu Valley side of Kapaau in North Kohala.

HDOT District Engineer Donald Smith said there is also a landslide at mile marker 24.

“As long as it’s raining, the landslides will continue to occur,” Smith said.

In addition, one lane is blocked on Highway 19 at mile marker 3.8 north of Hilo. The highway also has debris or landslides at mile markers 6, 11, 14, 19 and 28. The road is closed at mile marker 14.

Kohala Mountain Road remains closed at mile marker 13. Saddle Road above Hilo closed Thursday night due to a landslide. It has since reopened with contra flow. Approximately 2.3 miles of shoulder has been eroded. Smith said he has contractors on site repairing the ditches.