PORT ORCHARD – A portion of SE Southworth Drive will be closed for up to eight weeks as part of a project to restore the Harper Estuary. Kitsap County Department of Public Works is partnering with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Washington Department of Ecology to restore the Harper Estuary. The project will restore tidal influences and natural habitat impacted by industrial fill, undersized culverts, and relict roadway fill. The project is planned in two phases.

WDFW is the design lead for Phase 1 of the project, removing industrial fill from a former brick factory. In addition, a 16-foot, three-sided  concrete culvert will replace the existing 24-inch concrete culvert under Southworth Drive to improve fish passage and increase tidal exchange. Manchester Water District, Puget Sound Energy, CenturyLink, and Wave Broadband will be relocating their utilities along the roadway during this phase.

SE Southworth Drive will be closed from Sept. 21 through Nov. 16 from SE Olympiad Drive, extending 500 feet to the south. A detour route will be in place.

Harper Park will close to allow the contractor to stage equipment and construction supplies. A pedestrian path from SE Southworth Drive to the trailhead in the park will be maintained during the work.

On the web: www.westsoundwatersheds.org

– Kitsap County