Saddle Road

Route 200
Saddle Road, Daniel K. Inouye Highway
Route information
Maintained by HDOT
Length:	52.7 mi (84.8 km)
Major junctions
East end:	Route 19 in Hilo
West end:	Route 190 south of Waimea
Highway system
Routes in Hawaii ← Route 197 H-201 → ← Route 1970 Route 3000 →

Route 2000
Location:	Hilo
Length:	6.2 mi (10.0 km)

Routes in Hawaii

Route 200, known locally as Saddle Road, traverses the width of the Island of Hawaiʻi, from downtown Hilo to its junction with Hawaii Route 190 near Waimea. The road was considered one of the most dangerous paved roads in the state, with many one-lane bridges and areas of marginally maintained pavement. Most of the road has now been repaved, and major parts have new re-alignments to modern standards. The highway reaches a maximum elevation of 6,632 feet (2,021 m) and is subject to fog and low visibility. Many rental car companies used to prohibit use of their cars on Saddle Road, but now allow use of the road. The highway experiences heavy use as it provides the shortest driving route from Hilo to Kailua-Kona and access to the slopes of Mauna Loa and the Mauna Kea Observatories.

In May 1849, Minister of Finance Gerrit P. Judd proposed building a road directly between the two population centers of the Island of Hawaiʻi. Using prison labor, it started near Holualoa Bay at 19°35′57″N 155°58′26″W / 19.59917°N 155.97389°W / 19.59917; -155.97389 (Judd Road west) and proceeded in a straight line up to the plateau south of Hualālai. After ten years only about 12 miles (19 km) were completed, when work was abandoned at 19°38′38″N 155°45′12″W / 19.64389°N 155.75333°W / 19.64389; -155.75333 (Judd Road east) when the 1859 eruption of Mauna Loa blocked its path. Although destroyed at lower elevations due to residential development, it can still be seen on maps as the "Judd Trail".

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Wikipedia