Following last Thursday’s vandalism, Newberry Hill Road will remain closed for at least several weeks, a county spokesman told the Kitsap Sun on Monday.
Kym Pleger, communications manager for Kitsap Public Works, said in a phone interview that crews are still assessing the damage to the road but expect it to remain closed for “several more weeks.” A more specific timeline is expected later this week.
The road, which was set to reopen next week after months of construction, was vandalized Thursday night, according to the Kitsap Sheriff’s Office. Kevin McCarty, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office, said the case remains under investigation but had no update Monday morning.
At least six pieces of heavy construction equipment were damaged in the alleged vandalism, Pleger said, causing between $1 million and $1.5 million in damage. Pleger said the machines were equipped with a universal key that was easily accessible.
“You can even order them on eBay,” she said.
The extent of the damage to the road has yet to be determined, but the cost is estimated at more than $500,000, Pleger said. Workers are also still determining the damage to a retaining wall and how much of it will need to be rebuilt.
