A small problem is causing a huge traffic backup in the town-bound lanes of Farrington Highway along the Waianae Coast this morning.

A steel plate has come loose in one lane of pavement fronting Nanaikapono Elementary School, police said. The affected area is only about 20 feet long, but town-bound traffic is being forced into one lane to avoid a hole created when the plate shifted.

As of 6:10 a.m. today, traffic headed for town was backed up beyond Maili Point, police said.

A construction company repair crew is en route to fix the problem, but there was no estimate on how soon the affected lane can be reopened.