HILO (HawaiiNewsNow) – The pedestrian bridge resulting in Mokuʻola, regularly referred to as Coconut Island, collapsed Friday morning as a county employee drove a mini-excavator around the construction, final the preferred Hilo park indefinitely.
“This can be a very unlucky state of affairs and a wonder to all folks,” mentioned Hawaiʻi County Mayor Kimo Alameda.
Hawaiʻi County supplied a timeline for maintenance Friday afternoon, pronouncing the activity may take 18 to 24 months. They mentioned that’s because of the complexity of the venture and the selection of companies concerned.
Timelapse video from HNN’s Hilo Bay digital camera captured the cave in round 7:40 a.m. The county employee was once riding the 8,000-pound mini-excavator over the bridge to transparent particles from top surf when the construction buckled within the ultimate stretch.
The just about 60-year-old pedestrian bridge now in part sits within the water. It’s nonetheless unknown if the excavator’s weight ended in the cave in.
“So far as the situation, , the ones are the type of questions that we’re taking a look into presently,” mentioned Alameda. “We now have numerous bridges. This bridge, it wasn’t a priority.”
No accidents had been reported, however the excavator’s operator was once taken to the medical institution as a precaution.
“At this time, our major worry is public protection. Ensuring that, , one, no person tries to move the bridge, so we’ve blocked it off. And simply preserving everyone secure and acutely aware of the placement,” Alameda mentioned.
The closure impacts households and fishermen who widespread the island, in conjunction with daredevils who bounce from its rock tower.
“It’s only a position my husband and I am going beautiful often to catch up with buddies for picnics and other folks grasp weddings there. I’ve been to 2,” mentioned Jennifer Wheat, a Hilo resident. “I’ve been throughout that bridge many, time and again. And it gave the impression beautiful strong to me.”
Betty Ann Yoshimura, any other Hilo resident, mentioned the island holds “glorious recollections of time spent over there over time.”
The Hawaiʻi Police Division mentioned the wear is estimated at $2 million. The county hopes to start out maintenance as quickly because the construction is deemed secure.
“We’ll get this bridge assessed and determine what’s the following steps. We all know our island citizens love placing out at the island and we all know it is a hallmark for us, so we need to get it again up in just right form once imaginable,” Alameda mentioned.
Police ask the general public to keep away from the world.
For questions or additional info, please touch the Hawai‘i County Division of Parks and Sport at (808) 961-8311.
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