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Friday, July 20, 2018 | Vol. 94, No. 29 | WWW.BAINBRIDGEREVIEW.COM | 75¢
Three roundabouts on Highway 305 now in WSDOT’s plan for Bainbridge BY BRIAN KELLY Kitsap News Group
State officials are considering a series of roundabouts on Highway 305 as a possible solution to traffic snarls and safety problems on a stretch of the roadway between the Bainbridge ferry terminal and Poulsbo. Steve Roark, assistant region administrator for the Washington Department of Transportation, briefed the Bainbridge Council this week on emerging plans for safety and mobility improvements along a roughly 11-mile stretch of Highway 305. Improvements between the ferry terminal and Hostmark Street in Poulsbo will be financed by $36.8 million that was set aside for Highway 305 as part of the “Connection WA Act,” approved by the Legislature in 2015. Three roundabouts are in the plans for Bainbridge Island on Highway 305: at Day Road, Ada’s Will Lane and NE Port Madison Road. Also in the plans is limiting access at Agatewood Road NE to “right turn in, right turn out.” Drivers heading to Winslow from Agatewood, for example, would turn north onto the highway, then go around the roundabout at Ada’s Will Lane to continue southward. Bainbridge council members were split on worries raised about the loss of trees from the construction of roundabouts in the scenic Highway 305 corridor. Mayor Kol Medina said the idea to remove trees for an expanded park-and-ride lot at Day Road would not be popular. “I don’t think that would go over
very well here,” Medina said. Councilman Joe Deets agreed, adding that roundabout would also mean the loss of trees on the west side of the highway, next to the expansive meadow that was the first open space preserved on the island. But Councilwoman Sarah Blossom disagreed. “So this Bainbridge Island resident says sometimes we have to lose some trees, sometimes we have to deal with change to get good solutions to solve some problems,” Blossom said. This week’s briefing mirrored one given last week to Poulsbo officials. “That’s a little bit of an inconvenience,” Roark said during his presentation to the Poulsbo council last week. “We think it’s fairly minor from a travel time standpoint,” he added. “And it will improve safety on the corridor.” On the Poulsbo side of the Agate Pass Bridge, roundabouts would be placed at Johnson Road, Totten Road and the Masi Shop. Roark noted the difficulty of access at the Masi Shop, and the resulting safety concerns, from a recent stop to get something to eat. “I tried to make a left turn out … and it was exciting,” he said. Roark said the project ideas for Highway 305 were in “the very early stages.” “I want to emphasize the word ‘conceptual,’” he said. The Washington State Department of Transportation — along with the cities of Bainbridge
INSIDE: Made in the USA, A6
SOS FOR THE USA
Luciano Marano | Bainbridge Island Review
Islanders wave signs to passersby on Highway 305 from the Waypoint Park Wednesday night.
‘Confront Corruption’ rally occupies Waypoint Park BY LUCIANO MARANO Kitsap News Group
“Officials are trading on the power invested in our institutions for personal and financial gain rather than for the welfare of the American people,” organizers said. “From attacks on the Russia investigation to ethics scandals in the highest offices in the land, we must reject attempts to shield corruption from political consequences, public scrutiny, and legal accountability.” More than 100 cities had announced “Confront Corruption” rallies, which, organizers said, are intended as a response to the recent meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President
A pro-democracy public vigil was held Wednesday evening in Waypoint Park in downtown Winslow, one of many such gatherings slated to occur in cities across the country. Organizers of the campaign, “Confront Corruption,” said the demonstrations were to Luciano Marano | Bainbridge Island Review raise awareness of recent government misbehavior and Protesters gathered at Waypoint Park dishonesty. in Winslow Wednesday, July 18, one A small vocal crowd of of many “Confront Corruption” sign-wavers gathered to solicit demonstrations set to be held around honks of support from drivers the country. headed on and off the ferry, many brandishing messages Vladimir Putin. extolling compassion and diversity, with others conVisit www.confrontcorruption.org to learn more. demning the president.
TURN TO 305 | A5
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