Aloha Kauʻiokahaloa Nui residents and Neighbors,

Re: Important update on stream dredging project

We are pleased to announce an important update on the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Woodlawn Drive Bridge Stream Dredging Project. DLNR has committed that the site for the sediment de-watering bed will be relocated to the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) parking lot across the street from the Mānoa Library.

Please be advised that the new site will result in more construction traffic on Woodlawn Drive, with trucks hauling the sediment from the worksite to the de-watering bed location. Also, the staging area for the construction site has not changed although the perimeter has been reduced with the relocation of the de-watering bed.

As everyone who experienced the disastrous flood in 2004 knows, this long-awaited project is critical to protect the university, our residents and neighbors. The work could begin as early as next week. The first of two phases will focus on clearing 40 feet upstream and 40 feet downstream of the Woodlawn Drive Bridge. The excavator will be working from all corners of the bridge during this phase, to remove and place sediment directly into dump trucks for transport to the de-watering bed site. The contractor will construct the drop structure under the bridge. This phase is expected to be completed in approximately three months.

The second phase is expected to begin in mid-September and will consist of removing invasive trees and dredging the built-up sediment 400 feet downstream of the bridge. After the invasive trees are removed, the same sediment removal and transport process will be followed. After the dredging, native trees and vegetation will be planted where the invasive trees were removed. The project is expected to be completed in early 2019.

If you have any concerns about the project’s impact on your living conditions, please contact University Housing Manager Andy Lachman at lachman@hawaii.edu or at 808-956-8449.

If you have any concerns or questions about the project, please contact Joseph Hart, the construction manager for the contractor, at joseph@hcahawaii.com or at 808-216-4918.

If there are any concerns or issues during off hours, please contact the UH Mānoa Department of Public Safety at 956-9111. The university is grateful to DLNR for their willingness to consider the concerns of our residents and for their willingness to adjust the project, and to CTAHR for accommodating the modified project. In addition, thank you to UH Vice President Gouveia and UH Vice President Young for their efforts in addressing the concerns of our residents.

We are committed to timely communication and will be providing regular updates as the project progresses. We greatly appreciate your patience and cooperation with the disruptions that will necessarily occur with a project of this scope, which is unfortunately necessary to protect Mānoa residents and the university.

Mahalo nui loa,

Andy Lachman
University Housing Manager