Hawaii locals fear the impact of the Mauna Loa eruption as lava oozes closer to a main highway

As of Thursday afternoon, the lava was about 3.2 miles away from the Daniel K. Inouye Highway, also known as Saddle Road, which connects the east and west sides of the Big Island.

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Dec. 2, 2022, 6:02 AM PST

By Julianne McShane

Lava flows from the eruption of Hawaii’s Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active volcano, are moving toward a main highway, adding to local worries on an island with few major roadways.

The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed in its most recent update, issued Thursday night local time, that the lava flows “are traveling to the north toward the Daniel K. Inouye Highway (Saddle Road) but have reached relatively flatter ground and have slowed down significantly as expected.”

The highway connects the east and west sides of the Big Island, acting as a thoroughfare betw