The Big Island Mayor’s Decision To Close Waipio Valley Road Rankles Residents … Some say the risk from rockfall is minimal, and that it’s really just about further restricting access. The public can weigh in at a meeting Wednesday.
A decision by Hawaii County’s mayor to close the popular Waipio Valley Road is stirring debate on the Big Island, with some residents saying the decision caught them off guard and others calling it heavy handed.
Citing threats to public safety from hazardous road conditions, Mayor Mitch Roth issued an emergency proclamation on Feb. 25 that bars access to the road with few exceptions — possibly until 2025.
“Waipio Valley Road is in imminent threat of slope and roadway failure threatening the health, safety and welfare of the people,” according to the emergency order. The danger is of such magnitude that it warrants “preemptive and protective action.”
On Friday, the mayor’s spokesman said despite some of the criticism over the road closure, Roth stands by the decision.
