POULSBO — Another major road closure of the State Route 305 widening project is about to get underway, signaling to area drivers that while construction continues to cruise toward its expected fall completion, the work isn’t over yet.
State Route 307, better known as Bond Road, will be closed near Bernt Road from 8:30 p.m. Aug. 17 until 7:30 p.m. Aug. 21 as crews install a culvert to improve fish migration, forcing motorists to face the challenge of getting around a stretch of highway traversed by 17,000 vehicles daily. Washington State Department of Transportation construction engineer George Titterness said backups could be bad.
WSDOT is urging drivers to plan for delays and use alternate routes as they will be unable to travel north on SR 307 from SR 305, or the opposite direction.
“We’re asking motorists to plan their commute knowing that the section of the roadway is going to be closed,” said WSDOT spokeswoman Kelly Stowe. The department has installed signs and posted closure information on Kingston and Winslow ferries in an effort to reduce disruptions.
The closure was originally slated to take only 56 hours, but crews determined the work could not be completed that quickly, and the project was extended to a 95-hour time period. A marked detour along Lincoln and Stottlemyer roads will be in place for the duration of the five-day shutdown, which is expected to be finished Tuesday night, Stowe said.
“All of our projects, of course, are weather permitting,” she said.
Access to Valley Nursery will be maintained for motorists coming from Kingston and Bernt Road via SR 307, and for drivers from Poulsbo via Little Valley Road.
“We have a long ways to go, we’ve come a long way,” WSDOT project manager Jerry Moore said of the widening project. “We’re trying really hard. We do ask for people’s patience.”
Poulsbo Mayor Kathryn Quade said while construction does cause transportation glitches, work is progressing well.
“Yes, it’s a pain,” she said. “Overall it’s looking good. We’re seeing positive improvements.”
For road and traffic updates, call 511 or visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/.
