WAILUKU, Maui — County officials said yesterday an emergency bridge in Wailua, between Hana and Kipahulu, should be built and open to traffic by Dec. 1.

But in the meantime, it may be a rough three weeks for residents of Kaupo and Kipahulu because the highway will be completely closed while the steel-component bridge is erected.

One-lane Paihi Bridge in Wailua has been closed because of damage from the Oct. 15 earthquakes. Although concrete barriers were put in place to block vehicular traffic, many residents have been crossing the damaged bridge on foot, despite the safety risks, to reach jobs and school.

Mayor Alan Arakawa said construction of the foundation for the temporary bridge will begin Monday, weather permitting. The mayor executed an emergency procurement contract with Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. for the work.

Construction of the bridge itself will start as soon as the components, weighing 71 tons, arrive on island from manufacturer Acrow Corp. in New Jersey.

Officials have yet to decide what to do about dangerous rockfall conditions on Pi'ilani Highway that have closed portions of the road between Kipahulu and Manawainui. Geo-technical engineers were on Maui this week to assess the conditions and make recommendations for reducing the hazards by scaling the mountainside or other measures.

Better weather yesterday allowed a Hawai'i Army National Guard helicopter from O'ahu to fly supplies to residents of Kaupo and Kipahulu. The CH-47 Chinook landed at the Pu'unene National Guard Armory to pick up food, water, gasoline, propane and two large generators before heading out to the remote East Maui communities. Bad weather Thursday forced the airlift to be postponed until yesterday.

The supply flights will continue on a twice-weekly basis until the emergency bridge is erected.

The several hundred residents of Kaupo and Kipahulu, who rely on their own water and power systems, report they have enough supplies, but officials said the airlifts are being made to keep them from driving out on unsafe roads to restock.

Because the area's 80 registered voters are cut off from their usual polling place in Hana, the Maui County Clerk's Office has arranged for two staffers to be flown by helicopter today to conduct balloting from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Kipahulu Community Kitchen. Residents also have the option of voting in Hana on Election Day.

Reach Christie Wilson at cwilson@honoluluadvertiser.com.