The in basket: Larry Hilberg of Faulkner Road in North Kitsap
was not gladdened to read of plans for a stop signal at Highway 3
and Big Valley Road just south of Faulkner in the Dec. 10 Road
Warrior.
Large trucks already create delays as they make the climb from Big
Valley Road going south, he said. On one recent day he followed
such a truck, he wrote, “by the time it got half-way up the hill,
it had 10 cars behind it.
” What will it be like when they have to stop at the bottom of the
hill?” he asked.
The in basket: Larry Hilberg of Faulkner Road in North Kitsap was
not gladdened to read of plans for a stop signal at Highway 3 and
Big Valley Road just south of Faulkner in the Dec. 10 Road
Warrior.
Large trucks already create delays as they make the climb from Big
Valley Road going south, he said. On one recent day he followed
such a truck, he wrote, “by the time it got half-way up the hill,
it had 10 cars behind it.
” What will it be like when they have to stop at the bottom of the
hill?” he asked. “It will create a passing problem and very
dangerous situation.” He suggests a climbing lane on that hill
until the state can four-lane the highway.
The companion light to be installed at Highway 3 and Pioneer Way
light this year won’t create the same problem, he said, but will
have to be conspicuously signed to alert drivers coming over the
crest of the hill.
The out basket: A southbound climbing lane from Big Valley uphill
is in the state’s long-range planning, but no money has been
provided and no schedule set to build it, says Steve Bennett of the
Olympic Region traffic engineers. He still feels the new signal
will be a net benefit, he said.
“(Our) take on this is that the benefits of improving safety for
motorists turning onto and crossing the highway from the side
street greatly outweigh the chance of someone attempting to
illegally pass on the hill,” said Kelly Stowe, information officer
for the region. “The striping will make it clear that it is a ‘no
passing zone.’ So there will be no question as to what drivers are
supposed to do …”
“The striping will make it clear that this is a no passing zone…. there will be no question…..”
There may be no question that this is a “no passing” zone based on the striping and signage, but the same indicators have no effect on many individuals that feel they are above the law.
There are far too many individuals driving in rural areas of Kitsap County that feel it is “OK” to ignore no passing zones. Do not look to the Sheriff’s Office for relief, they do not have enough deputies to cover normal day to day business, let alone ensure that our street are free of idiot drivers….