Officials are studying ways to replace an aging walkway across Kailua's Kawailoa Road Bridge, a city spokesman said.

The mauka-side walkway, which has been closed for more than a year, has significant damage that makes it unsafe for use, according to Eugene Lee, director of the city's Department of Design and Construction. The damage includes severe corrosion of the metal brackets holding up the walkway, and rotted wooden planks.

Although a safer, more modern walk and bike path exists on the ocean side of the road fronting Kailua Beach Park, users say the closure of the mauka walkway presents a dangerous situation for bicyclists and residents who have to cross the busy road just after it makes a sweeping S-turn opposite Buzz's Steak House.

"It's a place where a lot of kids are crossing the road at a very tricky spot," said Johnna del Castillo, a coach for the Kai Oni Canoe Club, which this year has more than 50 young members who sometimes paddle on Ka'elepulu Stream where it passes under the bridge.

Del Castillo said that when conditions prevent the club from practicing on Kailua Bay, members have to go up and down the stream and make crew changes on both sides of the bridge.

"That means that sometimes they are crossing the street twice to get to the other side of the canal," she said.

"I'm always worried because there are a lot of tourists driving who don't know where they are going and a lot of people hurrying in the afternoon to get home to Lanikai."

The Honolulu City Council last year appropriated $50,000 to study the situation and design a solution. City officials last month told members of the Kailua Neighborhood Board that they are in the process of hiring a consultant for design work on the bridge, which was built in 1925.

Options include repairing or replacing the damaged walkway, they said.

There are no plans to replace the automobile part of the bridge, which remains structurally sound, according to city spokesman Mark Matsunaga.

In recent months, Del Castillo said, workers have removed cables and bits of concrete dangling under the bridge that passing paddlers had to dodge. And the city has painted a pedestrian crosswalk on the road in front of the bridge, she said.

"That's a help, but we still need to get a permanent fix," she said.

Most heavily used bridges on O'ahu are on state roads and the responsibility of the state Transportation Department, which allocates millions of dollars a year in a continuing program to upgrade and repair older spans, some of which date to the early 20th century.

State officials said another bridge, known as the Kawailoa Stream Bridge, on O'ahu's North Shore is also slated for renovations in coming years.

Reach Mike Leidemann at mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.