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<br />William V. Brilhante, Jr. <br />C. Kimo Alameda, Ph.D. <br />Managing Director <br />Mayor <br />Merrick Nishimoto <br />Deputy Managing Director <br />County of Hawai‘i <br />Office of the Mayor <br />25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 (808) 961-8211 Fax (808) 961-6553 <br />KONA: 74-5044 lole Hwy., Bldg C Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740 <br />(808) 323-4444 Fax (808) 323-4440 <br />Twenty FirstAmended Traffic Emergency Zone Declaration And <br />Twenty FirstWaipi‘oValley Road Declaration Of Emergency <br />WHEREAS,Waipi‘o Valley Road is a four-wheeldrive County road located on the <br />i Island. The road is narrow andwinds down the steep <br />hillside of the south valley wall. <br />WHEREAS, Waipi‘o Valley Road is the only vehicular ingress and egress forWaipi‘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, Hawai‘i County <br />residents, visitors, and authorized tour operators. <br />WHEREAS, Waipi‘o Valley Road presents significant safety <br />shoulders or adequate troughs to catch and debris.The road is slippery, particularly <br />after heavy rains. Some portionsof the road <br />areunpassable for two vehicles. Limited sightdistance along the road hampersdriver ability to <br />safely navigate oncoming traffic andpedestriansin the roadway. <br />WHEREAS, Waipi‘o Valley Roaddescendsabout800 feet in elevation over <br />approximately 4100 feet. <br />WHEREAS, Waipi‘o Valley Road can experience significant amounts of runoff, <br />particularly after heavy rains. Historically, the County closesthe road following periods of <br />heavy rain and 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 />WHEREAS, the County’sreceipt of the completed Hart Crowser’s Preliminary <br />Geotechnical Report dated January 2022(“Report”)occurred in January 2022. <br />County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. <br /> <br />