PORT ORCHARD — Beginning March 2, motorists who use Lake Flora Road Southwest will need to find an alternate route to get to where they need to go.

The road, which was impacted by a partially closed culvert at Coulter Creek in January after a series of storms caused the road embankment to wash out, will be closed for about four months, according to Kitsap County Public Works.

Since the washout, Lake Flora Road Southwest has been operating with an alternating one-lane traffic signal.

County engineering staff have consulted with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and other resource agencies to explore permanently replacing the existing 6-foot-diameter metal arch culvert at Coulter Creek. According to officials, the permanent fix is an 80-foot bridge spanning a restored stream channel.

Ceccanti Inc. is scheduled to start construction March 3 and continue work through June under a $1.2 million construction contract. Detour routes using Sunnyslope Road will be posted to direct traffic around the work.

“Coulter Creek is arguably the top priority stream for WDFW in West Sound/East Kitsap County,” said Brittany Gordan, an area habitat biologist for WDFW.

“This emergency project has multiple benefits,” Tim Beachy, the agency’s project manager, said. “It allows us to restore a safe roadway for vehicles and restore important stream passage for fish.”