Hilo Traffic Update for October 26th, 2020

A major traffic backup was happening on Kanoelehua Avenue/Volcano Highway (Highway 11) and other roadways in Hilo Monday afternoon (October 26th).

Published by: HIRSC - Hawaii Island (Hilo and Kea'au) Team

info@hiradioscannercommunity.com

The HIRSC Team has received numerous reports from motorists and residents reporting a major traffic backup on Kanoelehua Avenue/Volcano Highway (Highway 11) heading southbound (Puna Bound) Monday afternoon (October 26th). A few of our HIRSC Moderators were stuck in the major traffic jam and were able to provide us the details of their commute.

The temporary signal at the intersection of Kipimana Street and Volcano Highway (entrance to Shipman Industrial Area) had gone online on Monday morning and some motorists are still getting adjusted to the new traffic pattern.

Earlier this afternoon a three-vehicle collision had occurred at the intersection at 2:49 pm Monday afternoon and had a lane of traffic blocked while emergency crews were at the scene. The scene was cleared at around 4:10 pm Monday afternoon. (More details on this collision will be provided in an update later this evening)

One of our moderators said the traffic was backed up as far as Lanikaula Street in Hilo on Kanoelehua Avenue and traffic was also backing up on Kilauea Avenue and Kino'ole Street as well. Motorists were moving at a rate of 1 mile every 20 minutes and took multiple traffic signal cycles to get through each signalized intersection.

Once our moderators had passed through the Kipimana Street traffic signal, traffic was flowing freely on Highway 11 going into Kea'au town and also flowing on Highway 130 (Kea'au-Pahoa Road).

At around 5:00 pm Monday evening, HPD received a report of a minor traffic collision on Kanoelehua Avenue at the intersection of Mamaki Street. Vehicles were able to move off the roadway to allow traffic to continue to flow.

No other traffic hazards or collisions have been reported since 5:30 pm.