NOTICE OF CONSULTATIONS WAIMAAUAU STREAM BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT On behalf of the Federal Highway Administration (FWHA), in cooperation with the State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation (HDOT), the County of Hawaii Department of Public Works (COH) is proposing the Waimaauau Stream Bridge Replacement Project. This federally funded COH project is considered a federal action and undertaking, as defined by Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966, as amended (2006). The proposed project is located in Pepeekeo Town, Makahanaloa Ahupuaa, South Hilo District, Island of Hawaii. The Area of Potential Effect (APE) is located along a portion of the Old Mamalahoa Highway approximately 190 feet north of the Pepeekeo Street intersection. The APE encompasses 0.21 acres (9,250 square feet) and measures 37 feet wide by 250 feet long within the existing road-right-of-way. The APE includes the entirety of the Waimaauau Bridge, as well as 219 linear feet for the approaches and roughly 8.5 feet that extends mauka (west) and makai (east) from the edges of the roadway. All work will occur within the County-owned roadway property boundaries. See accompanying map. The proposed undertaking involves the demolition of the existing single-span concrete deck, masonry parapets, asphaltic concrete approaches, a non-operational waterline, guardrails, and portions of the two, cement rubble masonry wingwalls. The existing stone abutments will remain in-place. The bridge elements will be replaced with a new single-span bridge deck, along with asphaltic concrete pavement for both the deck and approaches, guardrails, pavement markings, and signs. The bridge elements will be replaced with in-kind or similar materials. Temporary silt fencing will be installed on the downstream (eastern) side of the bridge along the banks of Waimaauau Stream. This undertaking is intended to replace the deteriorating deck slab and reinforcing steel that have been compromised and pose a risk to oversized vehicles such as trucks and emergency vehicles. Pursuant to Section 106 of the NHPA, Native Hawaiian Organizations and Native Hawaiian descendants with ancestral, lineal or cultural ties to, cultural and historical property knowledge of and/or concerns for, and cultural or religious attachment to the proposed project area are requested to contact COH. Other individuals and organizations with demonstrated legal, economic or historic preservation interest in the undertaking are asked to contact COH and share information you may have on historical and cultural sites that you may have knowledge of within the proposed APE. We welcome any information within 30 days of notice. Interested participants are requested to contact Kason Pacheco within 30 days from the date of receipt, via email at kason.pacheco@hawaiicounty.gov, or by U.S. Postal Service to the County of Hawaii, Aupuni Center, 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 7, Hilo, Hawaii 96720. |