(ABOVE VIDEO) Footage of today’s blessing and opening of Railroad Avenue, shot by David Corrigan, reported by Sherry Bracken.

NEWS BRIEFS

• On Saturday at noon Railroad Avenue was opened to motorists.
• Kahu Violet May Makuakane blessed the road at 10 a.m. She was joined by the students of Kua o Ka La Public Charter School. County officials Mayor Billy Kenoi, Public Works Director Warren Lee, and Civil Defense administrator Darryl Oliveira were in attendance, as were a handful of community members.
• Big Island Video News will have a full, high definition drive through of Railroad Ave uploaded soon, with complete remarks from today’s ceremony.

INSIGHTS

Railroad will serve as an emergency access road when Highway 130 becomes covered by lava, as officials expect will happen sometime in the future. On Saturday Highway 130 was still open and the lava was still over half a mile away. But officials want the public to get familiar with the road that will serve as the primary way in and out of lower Puna once the lava crosses the highway.

PRIMARY SOURCE

Portion of the Hawaii County map showing alternate access plans for Puna.

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