Sunnyslope Road SW in South Kitsap is now open to all traffic as Kitsap County crews have recently completed repairs to two failing culverts beneath the road.

Last winter, a 36-inch diameter corrugated metal culvert carrying Coulter Creek beneath the road failed, causing the roadbed to wash out and requiring a complete closure, a county news release states. During subsequent inspections, a second culvert was also identified as failing and in need of replacement.

Construction began in August, and crews worked to complete the repairs within the “fish window” established by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife to minimize aquatic life disturbance, per the release. The Coulter Creek culvert was upgraded to a 20-foot-wide aluminum arch, improving the flow of the stream. Additionally, the twin 30-inch corrugated metal culverts at the southern crossing were replaced with twin 36-inch pipe culverts.