Situation
The Kilauea volcano eruptions on Hawaii’s Big Island have caused major damage and the evacuation of thousands of residents. With as much as 7.7 square miles of the island covered in hardened lava, and the volcano still very active, it became a high priority to construct an emergency evacuation route for residents of lower Puna.
Solution
GBI assembled our team in a single day and completed this project in four days. Mobilizing the equipment was challenging because the volcanic activity created deep cracks in the road. We had to be sure the roads could support the weight of our equipment.
GBI removed a 0.7-mile section of solidified lava, creating a 24-foot wide alternative route through Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. This was an evacuation route only, not a road for travel to and from the Kalapana area. It was to be used by Puna residents in an emergency if their one remaining route (Highway 130) became obstructed due to lava flow.
Notable
All of GBI’s equipment had to be thoroughly cleaned and pass a detailed inspection prior to beginning the project. This was to ensure the natural resources of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park were protected from the introduction of invasive species.
