Hawaii Route 560

Infobox road
state=HI
type=HI
route=560
alternate_name=Kuhio Highway
length_mi=10.0
length_round=10
length_ref=
established=Late 1960s
direction_a=East
starting_terminus=
junction=
direction_b=West
ending_terminus=Dead ends at Ha'ena State Park
previous_type=HI
previous_route=550
next_type=HI
next_route=570

Hawaii Route 560 is a ten-mile road that stretches from the junction of Route 56 in Princeville to a dead end road at Haena State Park on Kauai. The road was formally constructed in 1957. [ [http://www.archiplanet.org/wiki/Kaua'i_Belt_Road--North_Shore_section Archiplanet's Listing of Hawaii 560] ] The entire road is signed as the Kuhio Highway and Hawaii Route 56 was once signed on this route before it was downgraded to become Hawaii Route 560 in the late 1960s. [ [http://www.hawaiihighways.com/FAQs-page3.htm#route-system-evolution How did Hawaii's route number system evolve into its present form?] ] Hawaii Route 560 was added in 2004 to the National Register of Historic Places as the Kaua'i Belt Road-North Shore section. [ [http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/listings/20040220.htm HI 560 Added to National Register of Historic Places] ] The Kuhio Highway is named after Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana'ole, the second non-voting Congressional Delegate from territorial Hawaii.

Background

The character of the road can be explained in many ways. Beginning in Princeville, the road drops in elevation heading towards the Hanalei River with lookout points giving breathtaking views of the river valley and the northwestern shore of Kauai. The road is narrow at times and features eleven one-lane bridges with the first constructed in 1912. Many of these bridges have restricted weight limits and some of them are wooden. [ [http://www.hawaiihighways.com/kuhio-hwy-bridge-log.htm HI 560 Bridge Log] ] Traffic must yield at these bridges and it is custom on the island to allow the greater traffic to cross first or after three to five cars have passed your side of the road to allow to the other side to pass. [ [http://www.kauaidiscovery.com/virtual_kauai_tour/hanalei+princeville+kilauea/page10/ One Lane Bridge Crossing the Hanalei River] ] The only major town on this route is Hanalei. The road becomes narrower with each passing mile as the Nā Pali Coast begins to inch closer towards the coast. The road dead ends at Haena State Park.

Past Aspirations

The Hawaii Department of Transportation was planning to replace these bridges with two-lane bridges, but the plan was later abandoned in 1987. Instead, a massive renovation project began for the Hanalei River bridge, which was completed in 2003 thanks in part to a community preservation group and cooperation with Hawaii DOT. [ [http://www.kauaiworld.com/articles/2003/11/09/news/news04.txt Renovated Hanalei Bridge officially blessed] , "Kauai Garden Island News" November 9, 2003] [ [http://www.kauaiworld.com/articles/2003/05/15/news/export13134.txt Robeson, Wilcox honored for preserving Hanalei Bridge] , "Kauai Garden Island News" May 14, 2003] There also were plans to extend the road to Route 550 allowing one to circumnavigate the entire island in the 1960s; however, those plans were dropped due to environmental concerns and lack of traffic demand. [ [http://www.hawaiihighways.com/FAQs-page6.htm#Kauai-gap Why can't you drive all the way around Kauai?] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.hawaiihighways.com/kauai.htm Route Log]
* [http://www.hawaiihighways.com/photos-Kuhio-Hwy.htm Photos of the Kuhio Highway]