Construction site in Newberry Hill damaged, KSCO investigates

The Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office is trying to determine the cause of overnight damage at the Newberry Hill Road culvert project site, which has already prompted public works officials to push back the road’s reopening schedule as school starts imminently.

In a statement on August 23, KCSO said someone had access to heavy equipment overnight and allegedly caused significant damage to the construction site on Little Anderson Creek between Seabeck and Silverdale. Video footage shared by KSCO shows several pieces of construction equipment were found overturned, lying on their sides and visibly damaged.

The Kitsap County Department of Public Works added in the report that a retaining wall had suffered “significant structural damage,” leading officials to conclude that the road’s planned reopening on Sept. 4 was no longer possible or safe.

Emergency crews are working to determine the new extent of the road closure. Officials said emergency crews will need to dig under the wall to properly assess the damage. Paving of the site was scheduled to begin just three days after the damage was discovered.

District officials are working with nearby Klahowya Secondary School to develop a plan for the start of the school year.

Police are investigating the incident as a case of first-degree malicious damage to property and are asking anyone with information on a suspect to call 911 or Detective Dekorte at 360-337-5614.