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Mitchell D. Roth <br />Mayor <br />Lee E. Lord <br />Managing Director <br />Robert H. Command <br />Deputy Managing Director <br />MUTUU 1 .of (bluai"t <br />(Ifffi rr of f r Aztpr <br />25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 • (808) 961-8211 • Fax (808) 961-6553 <br />KONA: 74-5044 Are Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg C . Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i 96740 <br />(808)323-4444 . Fax (808) 323-4440 <br />FOURTH AMENDED TRAFFIC EMERGENCY ZONE DECLARATION AND <br />FOURTH WAIPI`O VALLEY ROAD DECLARATION OF EMERGE_IkiCY <br />WHEREAS, Waipi`o Valley Road is a four wheel drive County road located on the <br />northern Hamakua Coast of Hawaii Island. The road is narrow and winds down the steep <br />hillside of the south valley wall. <br />WHEREAS, Waipi`o Valley Road is the only vehicular ingress and egress for Waipi`o <br />Valley. <br />WHEREAS, Waipi`o Valley Road is used by residents of Waipi`o Valley, farmers who <br />transport agricultural products grown and harvested in Waipi`o Valley, Hawaii County <br />residents, visitors, and tour operators. <br />WHEREAS, Waipi`o Valley Road presents significant safety risks. For example, it lacks <br />shoulders or adequate troughs to catch falling rocks and debris. The road is slippery. particularly <br />after heavy rains, and adequate stormwater infrastructure is lacking. Some portions of the road <br />are unpassable for two vehicles. Limited sight distance along the road hampers driver ability to <br />safely navigate oncoming traffic and pedestrians in the roadway. <br />WHEREAS, Waipi`o Valley Road descends about 800 feet in elevation over <br />approximately 4100 feet. Rock outcropping and vegetation overhang the road. <br />WHEREAS, Waipi`o Valley Road can experience significant amounts of runoff, <br />particularly after heavy rains. Historically, the County closes the road following periods of <br />heavy rain and to clear rock, soil and vegetation which has fallen on and across the road. <br />WHEREAS, a slope failure occurred in March 2019 following heavy rainfall and high <br />streamflow associated with Hurricane Lane. The primary slide was approximately 500 feet tall <br />and 70 feet wide. Additional upslope landslide events occurred in April 2018 and February <br />2019. <br />WHEREAS, on or about April 2, 2020, the County hired a consultant, Hart Crowser, to <br />conduct a Preliminary Geotechnical Engineering Evaluation. <br />County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. <br />