Washed out, repaired, reopened and closed once more over a four-day period last week, the Vineyard Haven end of Lambert’s Cove Road will remain blocked off through the end of the year, public works director Kirk Metell told town selectmen Monday afternoon.

An abundance of caution led to the closure, Mr. Metell said at the weekly selectmen’s meeting in Katharine Cornell Theatre.

“The road still could be compromised, so we want to make sure we are doing everything in our power to make sure it’s safe,” he said.

Ross Seavey is the new conditional building commissioner in Tisbury.

Louisa Hufstader

Ross Seavey is the new conditional building commissioner in Tisbury.

Louisa Hufstader

Heavy rains have saturated and weakened the sandy soils under the roadway near Cranberry Acres, owned by the Vineyard Open Land Foundation. A pipe culvert for Smith Brook crosses beneath the road in the area of the sinkhole and washout discovered last Tuesday.

The roadway was already marked for repairs and contractors are arriving later this week, with the job now expanded to include the washed-out area, Mr. Metell said.

“We are going to do the job that was planned and fix the culvert all at the same time,” he said. The existing, 24-inch metal culvert will be replaced by a plastic pipe, he said.

Town fire chief John Schilling has notified public safety officials in West Tisbury of the road closure, Mr. Metell said, and the public school district’s transportation department has also been advised. Access from the West Tisbury end remains open.

Eversource, which has a power pole near the work area, has committed to having a truck and staff available in case they are needed during the repair project, Mr. Metell said, and the Vineyard Open Land Foundation has granted permission for work to take place on its property.

“That’s a lot of scrambling,” selectman Melinda Loberg said.

“It’s been a lot, yes,” he replied.

While the road may reopen as soon as the first of the year, Mr. Metell said the date will depend on what workers find as they excavate. For instance, he said, the exact location of the pipe culvert is unknown.

“It’s going to take a little bit of investigation,” he said.

One of the first tasks for contractors will be to bring down the water in Cranberry Acres, which Mr. Metell said Monday was about two feet short of threatening to compromise buildings on surrounding properties.

“A good level of water has risen in the cranberry bogs,” Mr. Metell said. “As soon as they get on site, their first job will be to cut in a temporary relief pipe to start draining.”

Mr. Metell also reported to selectmen that preparations were underway for street plowing in Tisbury to begin at 1 a.m. Tuesday, when snow was predicted.

While the accumulation was expected to be small and followed by rain, Mr. Metell said the town has plenty of back-up — three private contractors to plow the roads and one for sidewalks — if more snow falls.

“We are in very good shape for outside contractors,” he said.

In other business Monday, selectmen appointed Nancy Gilfoy to the sewer advisory commission and Christine Redfield to the William street historic district commission, as well as members of the short term parking task force: Mr. Metell, Tisbury police chief Mark Saloio, selectman Jeff Kristal, planning board member Cheryl Doble, David Ferraguzzi and Michael Levandowski.

Ross Seavey was named conditional building commissioner, a title he will hold while completing his final three exams in the qualification process for becoming a building commissioner in Massachusetts.