2023-01-13 Third Amended Traffic Emergency Zone Declaration and Third Waipio Valley Road Declaration of Emergency

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i i 3 ®i �h. o°•°Y q�® Lee E.Lord Managing Direetor Mitchell D.Roth •: :+ Mayor I Robert H.Command +TAT aF Mt` Deputy Aknaging Director 7 , 6junk 10 t t`l ffi>cl, 25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • (808)961-8211 Fax(808)961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy.,Bldg C • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 (808)323-4444 • Fax(808)323-4440 !I I 'I THIRD AMENDED TRAFFIC EMERGENCY ZONE DECLARATION AND THIRD WAIPI'O VALLEY ROAD DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY I WHEREAS, Waipi`o Valley Road is a fou:wheel drive County road located on the northern Hdmdkua Coast of Hawaii Island. The road is narrow and winds down the steep hillside of the south valley wall. 3 i WHEREAS, Waipi`o Valley Road is the only vehicular ingress and egress for Waipi`o Valley. WHEREAS, Waipi`o Valley Road is used by residents of Waipi`o Valley, fa:-mers who transport agricultural products grown and harvested in Waipi`o Valley, Hawaii County residents, visitors, and tour operators. WHEREAS, Waipi`o Valley Road presents significant safety risks. For example, it lacks shoulders or adequate troughs to catch falling rocks and debris. The road is slippery, particularly after heavy rains, and adequate stormwater infrastructure is lacking. Some portions of the road are impassable for two vehicles. Limited sight distance along the road hampers driver ability to safely navigate oncoming traffic and pedestrians in the roadway. WHEREAS, Waipi`o Valley Road descends about 800 feet in elevation over approximately 4100 feet. Rock outcropping and vegetation overhang the road. WHEREAS, Waipi`o Valley Road can experience significant amounts of runoff, particularly after heavy rains. Historically, the County closes the road following perods of heavy rain and to clear rock, soil and vegetation which has fallen on and across the road. WHEREAS, a slope failure occurred in March 2019 following heavy rainfall and high streamflow associated with Hurricane Lane. The primary slide was approximately 5 d0 -Feet tall and 70 feet wide. Additional upslope landslide events occurred in April 2018 and February 2019. WHEREAS, on or about April 2, 2020,the County hired a consultant, Hart Crowser, to conduct a Preliminary Geotechnical Engineering Evaluation. County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.