GBI’s Chain of Craters Road project received national press coverage due to the high level of interest in the ongoing eruption of the Big Island’s Kīlauea volcano.

The purpose of this project was to provide a one-way alternate emergency route for passenger vehicles from lower Puna up through Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park to Highway 11 in case Highway 130, the only remaining route into lower Puna, became impassable. Large cracks opened on Highway 130 where it passes directly over the East Rift Zone, and just to the east of the erupting lava fountain.

In GBI fashion, bringing in crews and equipment to break ground on this project was accomplished in one day; the work was completed in four days. A major concern was that Chain of Craters Road is located inside Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The Park has been closed to the public because of hazardous volcanic and seismic activity.

The scope of work for this project included the rough grading of 0.7 miles of roadway that was 24 feet wide; excavation of approximately 14,000 CY of solid basalt; and crushing of approximately 4,000 CY of basalt.

GBI was proud to partner with the local officials and businesses who made this evacuation route a high priority in the interest of public safety. These partners include the Hawaii State Department of Transportation, National Park Service, Hawai‘i County Police Department, and Island Topsoil.