(BIVN) – The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation reports emergency repairs to Highway 11 in Volcano continue, following the seismic activity associated with the activity at the lower East Rift Zone of Kīlauea Volcano.

A 24 hour per day, 7 day per week closure began on Highway 11 at Mile Marker 29.3 in Volcano on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018, with additional work to follow at Mile Markers 28.7 and, 29.1.

According to Hawaiʻi DOT:

This single lane restriction with contraflow to allow the flow of traffic in both directions will begin Tuesday, Dec. 11 in the eastbound lane and continue through Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. On Saturday, Dec. 15, the work will move on to the westbound lane. HDOT anticipates the 24-hour single lane restriction will be in place at this location through Wednesday, Dec. 19. All work is weather permitting; however, the closure will remain in place until the asphalt layer has been installed.

Between April 30 to August 4, 2018, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory recorded approximately 60,000 earthquakes—with 4,400 of those earthquakes measured at a magnitude of 3 or greater and the largest measuring at moment magnitude of 6.9.[1] The seismic activity contributed to the formation of rifts under Mamalahoa Highway (Route 11) near the entrance to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park between Mile Markers 28 and 30.

From July 6 to present, HDOT has repaired subsurface voids at Mile Markers 28.7, 30.05, 30.1, 30.6, and 31.7 along with embankment repair at Mile Marker 30, and has planned repairs at Mile Markers 28.7, 29.1 and 29.3. Ground truthing tests, including boring and camera reconnaissance, and ground penetrating radar, were used to determine the size and depth of the subsurface voids prior to beginning repairs.

Hawaiʻi DOT says this portion of Highway 11 will continue to be monitored by HDOT using cameras at punatraffic.com.