Reasons for new downtown PO traffic light
December 22nd, 2008 by travis baker
The in basket: Tracy in Port Orchard, who didn’t leave her last name, cut to the chase regarding the long-delayed new traffic signal in downtown Port Orchard, which still isn’t operational, and asked why the old lights were replaced at all. “It looks like they’re adding a couple huge street lights there too,” she added.
The out basket: Don Anders in the Olympic Region signal shop for state highways, says, “The existing signal system is 50 years old, the existing wood poles are in very poor condition, and we found that to rebuild this system is very difficult because of the existing seawall under the sidewalk.
“The city began a project to replace the street lights in this corridor and it was discovered that the wood canopy over the sidewalk and these poles supporting the signal were in very poor condition. We then moved this signal system up the priority list to address this need.” The new street lights are mounted atop the signal poles.
In a past Road Warrior column, Don said that traffic detection at the Bay Street-Sidney Avenue intersection, where the new signal is located, will be restored when it is operational. The old lights have been on timers since the repaving of Bay Street last summer.
Tags: Bay Street, Port Orchard, Sidney Avenue, street light, traffic signal
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
December 29th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Regarding the downtown traffic lights. Will there still be a right turn lane going to the Library? It seems both the new fixtures will narrow the lanes that exist now and make that intersection much more restrictive. I think that will play out in longer waits at that intersection, especially during commuter traffic.
Roger Gay
South Kitsap