The US$55 million rehab of the Wailuku River Bridge in Hilo, Hawaii, USA, has received a US$33 million boost from the US Department of Transportation.

The 70-year-old bridge is known for a humming noise that occurs as motor vehicles travel on it.

Hawai’i Department of Transportation (HDOT) plans to replace the superstructure of the historic bridge with similar steel girders and grating. It will remove some piers, and reinforce those remaining. The bridge will also be widened to improve accessibility, and the railings will be upgraded. HDOT is consulting with the state’s historic preservation division on the plans.

The federal funds will pay for 60% of the project cost, while HDOT and the Federal Highways Administration will cover the rest.

HDOT plans to put the project to bid in autumn 2026, with work starting in spring 2027. It has put the completion date at 2029.