The molten rock might render the road inaccessible, requiring commuters to take longer routes along the coast to the north and south.
Residents of Hawaii are preparing for additional disruptions if lava from the Mauna Loa volcano slides across a crucial roadway and shuts the quickest route connecting the island’s two sides.
It follows the spectacle of lava gushing from the volcano last Sunday for the first time in 38 years, which drew hundreds of people to the city of Hilo.
Now, though, the molten rock might render the road inaccessible, forcing cars to find alternative coastal roads in the north and south, which would add hours to their commutes.
The lava is steadily flowing at a rate that might reach the road within a week, but its erratic path could change or the flow could stop, sparing the highway.
Friday, geologists from the US Geological Survey reported that a slow-moving river was flowing approximately 4.3 kilometers (2.7 miles) from the road.
This week, the state Department of Transportation made steps to eliminate any traffic obstructions on the northern coastal route by reinstating a lane that had been closed for renovations across Nanue Bridge.
If Mauna Loa follows historical patterns, geologists from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory predict the eruption to continue for one to two weeks.
People attempting to catch a glimpse of the lava have caused the road to becoming jammed.
Among the subsequent incidents, according to Hawaii police, was a two-vehicle collision that sent two people to the hospital with “minor injuries.”
Ed Case and Kaiali’i Kahele submitted a letter to President Joe Biden stating that Hawaii County will need “urgent assistance” to ensure the safety of island populations if lava clogs the highway.
As one of the island’s principal hospitals is located on the east side, they emphasized that restricted access could impact emergency services.
Since the eruption, hotels in and around Hilo are becoming fully booked during a typically slower period of the year, and helicopter flights to Mauna Loa are also in high demand.
The front desk agent at the Castle Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, Marian Somalinog, reported that room sales have “exploded.”
“We’re full out till after Christmas,” she said, attributing the rise to tourists who want to view the vivid orange lava streams erupting from Mauna Loa, a shield volcano whose Hawaiian name means “Long Mountain” and which can be seen from portions of the hotel.
This week, thousands of cars have generated traffic jams on Route 200, also known as the Saddle Road, which connects the communities of Hilo on the east side of Hawaii Island to Kailua-Kona on the west side of the island.
