POULSBO — If area motorists can grit their teeth and bear construction for just a few more months, the work now slowing down the flow of traffic will finally pay off, changing State Route 305 from what once was a two-lane, traffic laden drive into a regular smooth-moving thoroughfare as soon as this October.
“Progress is moving along at a rapid pace,” said Washington State Department of Transportation construction engineer George Titterness. “We’re trying hard to get out of people’s way.”
Titterness said most recently, crews completed more paving near Hostmark Street and Lincoln Road, and installed a traffic barrier between Forest Rock Lane and Bond Road. Storm drainage work continues between Liberty Road and Bond Road. More paving, barrier installation and storm sewers are still to come.
“We’re still on track to have most of it wrapped up in October,” he said. “The contractor has been pushing real hard to get things done… but anything can happen.”
Construction will reach an all new level as more work on SR 307 and at the SR 307 and SR 305 intersection begins. Crews stick to the grind even during nights in order to accomplish the October goal. As work progresses, Titterness said he’d encourage drivers to take alternate routes whenever possible.
“It’s going to be really busy coming up here soon,” he said.
Starting at 8:30 p.m. Aug. 17, SR 307 near Bernt Road will be closed. The closure is scheduled to last until 7:30 p.m. Aug. 21. Titterness said Valley Nursery will still be open for business, though its normal entrance will be blocked.
Valley Nursery owner Brad Watts said customers can access the business by approaching south on Bond Road or utilizing the back gate on Bernt Road, which is typically reserved for exiting traffic.
“I’m sure we’re going to be extremely slow,” he said. “People are going to have to work really hard to get here.”
Watts said despite the disruption, he and his staff plan to use their expected downtime to their advantage by accomplishing tasks normally reserved for after business hours.
Senior Field Inspector Mike Lund said the scheduled detour during the SR 307 closure will take drivers to Lincoln Road, where the intersection with Caldart Avenue remains under construction as crews install traffic signals.
With the extra traffic headed that way, Lund said he expects some backups, but overall the Lincoln/Caldart project has come along smoothly.
“We’re hoping to have everything up and running by the end of the summer,” he said.
Lund said most of the underground work has been completed, and drivers will begin to see new traffic signal poles being installed in the next few weeks.
“It’s a tight schedule,” he said. “But I think they’re going to make it.”
