The in basket: Doug Greenwood of Port Orchard says he “recently
made a trip to Port Orchard from Steilacoom via Bridgeport Way.
Eventually found my way onto Jackson and was further enticed by the
signs with arrows indicating Highway 16 was just ahead.
“By the time I had gotten within 200 meters of the turnoff and
there were no crossroads left, the signs changed their tune and
said, ‘NOT FOR YOU!’ Is it possible that the warnings regarding the
restricted use of that on-ramp could be placed far enough back so
that a motorist could possibly escape onto Sixth Street?
The in basket: Doug Greenwood of Port Orchard says he “recently
made a trip to Port Orchard from Steilacoom via Bridgeport Way.
Eventually found my way onto Jackson and was further enticed by the
signs with arrows indicating Highway 16 was just ahead.
“By the time I had gotten within 200 meters of the turnoff and
there were no crossroads left, the signs changed their tune and
said, “NOT FOR YOU!” Because of the traffic flow around me, I felt
forced to commit a traffic infraction and proceed onto 16. (Okay, I
have “cc’d” my attorney and if any law enforcement lassies or
laddies see fit to pursue me, please do so through her office!)
“Is it possible that the warnings regarding the restricted use of
that on-ramp could be placed far enough back so that a motorist
could possibly escape onto Sixth Street, say? The existing signs
are somewhat off the road, look even rather temporary, as if the
state is not really serious about them, as I’m sure they are!”
The out basket: Lisa Murdock of the Olympic Region of state highway
replies, “The HOV restriction has been in place for about 10 years.
During that time there have been two 4 foot-by-5-foot signs on
northbound Jackson to advise motorists of the restriction. The
first sign is approximately 1,100 feet from the intersection and
the second is about 400 feet. In the last several years we have not
had any complaints about the signing, so at this time we have no
plans to change it.”
The restrictions prohibit single occupant vehicles from using that
ramp from 3-7 p.m. on weekdays. It’s a $101 ticket if you get
caught violating that rule. It was imposed because long lines of
traffic waiting at the light to use the ramp were making it hard
for the neighbors to come and go.
-I had a similar experience last month at this on ramp. I left University Place at 2:25 PM with 35 minutes to get to the bridge before the 3 PM deadline. The traffic was very heavy north-bound on Jackson. I got to the freeway entrance at exactly 3 PM just as two motorcycle policemen crossed the intersection to set up shop. I knew I was going to be their first ticket, so I was forced to make an unsafe merge back into the through lane traffic and circle around to Pearl St to get on the freeway. Thx,