Sen. Daniel Inouye announced the state of Hawaii will receive $2.5 million in federal funds to repair a part of Kolekole Pass Road in Waianae. The roadway serves as an evacuation route for tens of thousands of Leeward Coast residents, but has been partially closed since it was damaged by rains earlier this year. 

According to a statement released by Inouye’s office, the U.S. Department of Transportation is paying for a temporary bridge over the washed-out area of road, so that it’s  usable while engineers work toward a permanent solution.

“We must work to ensure the roadway is repaired and reopened so we do not endanger the health, safety, and welfare of the Leeward Coast community,” Inouye said in a statement.

Inouye’s office reported that heavy rain and flooding have left the roadway under some form of construction for nearly three years.