Beachwalk Emergency Bypass Coming Down

Written by Lisa Kubota - lkubota@kgmb9.com

May 11, 2008 06:08 PM

Two years after the largest sewage spill in Hawaii history the unsightly pipes along the Ala Wai canal will be coming down. This week crews will take down the final stretch of the emergency bypass. After more than 40 days of rain, an aging force main ruptured on Kaiolu Street on March 24, 2006, causing an emergency in Waikiki.

"Kaiolu Street was bubbling with sewage coming out. All of us were threatened with sewage coming out of our toilets," recalled Bob Finley of the Waikiki Neighborhood Board.

The system was overwhelmed and the city ended up dumping about 48 million gallons of sewage into the Ala Wai canal. Warning signs went up, keeping visitors and locals out of the water. The massive spill triggered a $45 million emergency bypass project.

"So if there is another type of spill that is to take place, that spill will not go into the Ala Wai we can take it out into the deep ocean out far," Hannemann said.

Crews built two new lines under the canal that carry wastewater to the Sand Island treatment plant. But all the work blocked part of the sidewalk, some parking spaces and the bike lane along the ala wai.

"We're just happy that they're trying to fix it. We work around the inconveniences of it all. We still get to use most of the Ala Wai when we paddle so it's okay," said paddler Andrea Hall.

Crews will remove 750-feet of pipe between Seaside Avenue and Lewers Street starting on Tuesday. The barriers will also be taken down by the end of the week, which will bring the bike lane back, along with about 30 parking stalls.

"By bringing these pipes down, it's going to make sure that this visible reminder of the work that has been going on for years is now coming to an end," Hannemann said.

The pipe on the canal floor and the above-ground piping along the mauka side of the Ala wai will remain for now while the city works on a design for a permanent underground line.