It’s taken about a decade for Port Gamble to get back on its feet. The closure of the long-running mill there left an unhealed scar on the waterfront and the economic future of the community in limbo. Environmental clean-up has been a long, consuming and continuing process.

Olympic Property Group has worked diligently to beautify Port Gamble, bringing in businesses, improving historic features and generally making the community a shining jewel of North Kitsap.

Now, it is throwing its hat in the ring to become the next home for what will likely become huge, long-term projects to repair and improve two of the state’s floating bridges. This move could easily tarnish its effort to become a true destination town. OPG’s recent decision doesn’t seem to fit this mission.

Putting the project here, from anything but a purely financial standpoint, doesn’t make sense. And even from there, the view isn’t all that great. Taxes for the county? Sure. Additional bucks in OPG’s coffers? You bet. Select small businesses in Port Gamble would also get a shot in the arm.

However, being the home of a historic mill and becoming the new home of state highway projects are two different things. While saying this will be a “temporary” site for such work may be true, the word is one of WSDOT’s favorites because it can be tailored to fit the state’s needs until it is able to accomplish its task. If two years turns into four or six years, it’ll still be considered “temporary.”

Meanwhile, that flexible time frame could spell problems in terms of available space as the town hosts ferry runs for commuters affected by the bridge’s impending closure. It could also very easily adversely impact OPG’s schedule for the town’s master plan.

Don’t get us wrong here.

The owners of Port Gamble are aces in our book. They’ve knitted a lovely sweater from a town that was hanging by a thread.

The community has become a destination for locals and visitors alike but opening the door for WSDOT to trod in with unwashed boots could leave a stain on your welcome mat.

We hope folks aren’t being blinded by dollar signs on this one and that the real impacts will be fully considered — temporary and otherwise.