Opaekaa Road Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Opaekaa Road Bridge is a steel truss bridge
listed on the National Register of Historic Places
located along Opaekaa Road in the Wailua Homesteads neighborhood of Kapaa
, on the island of Kauai
, in the state of Hawaii
, United States
. The one-lane bridge spans Opaekaa Stream. With steel beams forged in 1890 by the Alexander Findlay & Company in Motherwell, Scotland
, this is touted as possibly the only British-built bridge located in the United States.
Bridge. Constructed as a three span, steel truss bridge, its construction was delayed through 1894 due to the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom and the establishment of the Republic of Hawaii
. When this span was replaced in 1919, the steel was reused in the construction of the present-day bridge over Opaekaa Stream. Its relocation was carried out by then County Engineer Joseph Moragne.
Today, the largest span has a length of 33.1 feet (10.1 m), a total length of 74.2 feet (22.6 m) and a deck width of 12.5 feet (3.8 m). Having an average daily traffic of 382 vehicles as of 1986, the bridge is maintained by the Kauai County
Division of Roads. With a sufficiency rating of only 14.7 percent and substandard safety railing, this span is listed as structurally deficient and past the point of rehabilitation, necessitating the need for a replacement span for the crossing.
As a result of its age and exposure, many of its steel beams are rusted through, with much of its concrete deck cracked in multiple locations. Due to its deteriorating state as of 2007, its rated load is 5 tons. Currently, the span is listed to be replaced as part of the Hawaii Department of Transportation
's current statewide transportation improvement program.
Truss bridge
A truss bridge is a bridge composed of connected elements which may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads. Truss bridges are one of the oldest types of modern bridges...
listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
located along Opaekaa Road in the Wailua Homesteads neighborhood of Kapaa
Kapa'a, Hawai'i
Kapaa is a census-designated place in Kauai County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 9,472 at the 2000 census....
, on the island of Kauai
Kauai
Kauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...
, in the state of Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The one-lane bridge spans Opaekaa Stream. With steel beams forged in 1890 by the Alexander Findlay & Company in Motherwell, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, this is touted as possibly the only British-built bridge located in the United States.
History
The steel supports for this bridge were originally forged in 1890 and utilized as part of the Wailua RiverWailua River
The Wailuā River is a river on the island of Kauai in the U.S. state of Hawaii. It is formed by the confluence of its North and South forks just west of Wailua and enters the Pacific Ocean at . It is the only navigable river in the Hawaiian Islands...
Bridge. Constructed as a three span, steel truss bridge, its construction was delayed through 1894 due to the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom and the establishment of the Republic of Hawaii
Republic of Hawaii
The Republic of Hawaii was the formal name of the government that controlled Hawaii from 1894 to 1898 when it was run as a republic. The republic period occurred between the administration of the Provisional Government of Hawaii which ended on July 4, 1894 and the adoption of the Newlands...
. When this span was replaced in 1919, the steel was reused in the construction of the present-day bridge over Opaekaa Stream. Its relocation was carried out by then County Engineer Joseph Moragne.
Today, the largest span has a length of 33.1 feet (10.1 m), a total length of 74.2 feet (22.6 m) and a deck width of 12.5 feet (3.8 m). Having an average daily traffic of 382 vehicles as of 1986, the bridge is maintained by the Kauai County
Kauai County, Hawaii
Kauai County is a county located in the U.S. state of Hawaii. It consists of the islands of Kauai, Niihau, Lehua, and Kaula, in the state of Hawaii. As of 2000 Census the population was 58,463...
Division of Roads. With a sufficiency rating of only 14.7 percent and substandard safety railing, this span is listed as structurally deficient and past the point of rehabilitation, necessitating the need for a replacement span for the crossing.
As a result of its age and exposure, many of its steel beams are rusted through, with much of its concrete deck cracked in multiple locations. Due to its deteriorating state as of 2007, its rated load is 5 tons. Currently, the span is listed to be replaced as part of the Hawaii Department of Transportation
Hawaii Department of Transportation
The Hawaii Department of Transportation is a state government organization which oversees transportation in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The agency is divided into three divisions dealing with aviation, maritime, and roads.-Airports Division:...
's current statewide transportation improvement program.