South Kitsap road opens after months following replacement of failed culvert

SOUTH KITSAP — After nine months of closure, the Sunnyslope Road between SW Lake Flora Road and Cynthia Lane in South Kitsap is now open. The county crews have finished repairing two failing culverts beneath the road, according to a statement from the county.

The road was closed after heavy rains caused the failure of a 36-inch diameter corrugated metal culvert that carried Coulter Creek beneath the road, and led to part of the road being washed out last December . A second culvert was later identified as failing and needed to be replaced during subsequent inspections.

In August, the crew started repairs within the "fish window" established by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to minimize aquatic life disturbance, the county said.

"The 36-inch corrugated metal culvert at Coulter Creek was upgraded to a 20-foot-wide aluminum arch culvert, improving the natural flow of the stream through the crossing," the county said. "Additionally, the twin 30" corrugated metal culverts at the southern crossing were replaced with twin 36" HDPE culverts."

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: South Kitsap road opens after months following replacement of failed culvert