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You know when you're heading North on 11, and there's the sign for downtown Hilo, like that's the main route into town? Then suddenly, there's a one-lane bridge? What the heck's up with that?
Anybody know why that's been left only one lane?
(and for those wondering where "North Puna" is--I'm talking about Hilo) [
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><(((*< ... ><(("< ... ><('< ... >o>
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That is 4 mile bridge... since we have been here the traffic yielding lane has changed (it used to be that the traffic heading OUT of Hilo yielded to those heading in... they reversed over 5 years ago, but there are many that still yield the old way...so that makes it even crazy-er
I have a funny feeling that 4-mile bridge is going to get redone.... maybe soon (well, soon by Island Time standards) as this last year the north-west corner of the barrier and wing wall are very visibly deteriorated (read, MISSING)
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I may be mistaken but I think this may be one of those historic bridges that if rebuilt needs to look just like the old one. So if it is restored it would still be one lane. Those wooden bridges along the Hamakua coast are like that. I recall seeing a date maybe in the 20s on the side wall before it crumbled away.
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I hate that bridge. But, sometimes it's the best way into town, so I just grin and bear it.
Puna: Our roosters crow first
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Only a matter of time before there is a nasty head on there!
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Road signs everywhere ( it's an international policy) are always designed to direct people who already know where thy are going. "Next Exit" signs on the ramp of this exit. abbreviations and acronyms always help "NAIA next right " Of course everyone racing along in eight lanes of traffic knows this means: Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Of course maps which show only, for example: "I 87" but with signs only saying "Major Deegan Expressway" also enhance the driving experience.
I suspect the Hilo sign was mandated by an engineer in Honolulu who was looking at a map and had never been to the Big Island.
Maybe that bridge was built by the U.S.E.D. (suckers everyday) A part of Hawaii's history.
http://www.squareone.org/Hapa/u8.html
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I love that bridge.
Aloha in action most times.
Was sad when it was mandated with signage who precisely should be kind to whom, and when.
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I think you could fit two compact cars on there, but would be really tight squeeze for a fullsize... I only use it when LEAVING hilo. Otherwise I try to take a left just after the turn off for the bridge. I think there are two on the way into hilo before the light.
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Always liked it the old way, it broke up the traffic merging onto H-11. Now you can end up in a caravan of cars with an increased chance of one of the drivers not knowing how to merge and causing chaos. I only go that way when traffic is light.
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Back in the 70s I remember hearing stories that the bridge was haunted. That was before all those houses were built near it. When it was built, Kilauea Avenue was called Volcano Street and used to go all the up there.
