The in basket: Greaves Way, the link between Highway 303 and Old Frontier Road northwest of Silverdale. has inspired a couple of questions from Peter Wimmer of Silverdale.
One, he asked, “is there ever going to be ground maintenance on Greaves Way?”
And two, he said, when he asked the Road Warrior column about the fancy lighting on that road a couple years ago, “the project engineer said that it was done (because) it was the ‘Gateway to Silverdale.’ Then at the Dec. 21 Central Kitsap Community Council meeting where Tina Nelson (senior project manager for the county), gave the brief on the Silverdale Way roundabout and Bucklin Hill Road bridge project, I asked about the lighting and she said that it was going to be the standard grey metal pole lighting.
“If the roundabout is not another Silverdale Gateway (and yes, ‘Welcome to Silverdale’ is included in the design) then what is? This again is showing how Greaves Way is another ‘build it and they will come’ waste of tax dollars. And how do we get a true Gateway to Silverdale with proper lighting?”
The out basket: Peter’s first question implies that the Greaves Way landscaping was planted and forgotten, but Don Schultz, county road superintendent , says that’s not the case.
“Between April and October,” he said, “the county spent almost $10,000 on vegetation management efforts along Greaves Way. This includes about 240 staff hours controlling vegetation along the roadway.”
Their focus was driver visibility and keeping brush growth out of the street. “It is not landscaping in the truest sense,” he said, “but rather managing the vegetation to ensure the travel lanes remain clear.”
Tina Nelson took the second question, and said, “There has been, and continues to be, discussion with the Central Kitsap Community Council (CKCC) about using the center of the roundabout for a ‘feature’ (a gateway in a sense) to welcome motorists to Silverdale. The decision was made to include minor work within the center (including the wall with the Welcome to Silverdale letters) in the current construction project, and work later on a ‘feature.’ The feature could include art, plants, something by the community, a competition, or other ideas being considered by the CKCC.
“The construction plan is to provide the required lighting that meets (state) standards for safety for the roundabout. The current plan specifies standard (state) light poles. This is county standard for projects if we can’t hang luminaries from existing power poles. The standard poles meet safety specifications, and allow us to use existing inventory parts for any maintenance required. This keeps maintenance costs lower.
“We listened to feedback provided at the December CKCC meeting. We are reviewing the possibility of installing light poles more decorative than the standard poles currently in the project design.
“We are reviewing pole options, initial cost of installation, time and cost for a redesign of the lighting system, and future maintenance costs. Decorative lighting could also be provided to the corridor at a later date in addition to the required lighting. This would be more directed towards pedestrians and create a place and ambiance.”
Correct me if I’m wrong, but the difference in light poles has to do with who’s footing the bill.
Greaves Way would have been Federal Tax Payer money with perhaps some additional funds then or in the future of the company that has plans to develop that spot just west of the new transit station with another strip mall.
The roundabout involves purchasing the nw corner of property to fit the roundabout in the space and a rain garden of sorts to slow the water that will come down the hill. I would hazard a guess that the standard light poles are utilitarian and cheaper.
So they have again tried, in vain, to support the over priced Greaves? But shouldn’t it be who has to maintain it be the determination in the final design choice? Thanks again, Travis.
This is a great example for incorporation.
Really the last thing we need is one of these so called “traffic calming devices”. The silly roundabouts seem to cause more frustration, especially during the hours when congestion is at a peak! Plus the lettering would be a distraction!
Sadly, the few dozen Thundercloud Plum trees lining Greaves Way are dying from a fungal disease. So much for landscaping. I was surprised at the choice of plantings since this variety has been affected by disease all over the Puget Sound area.
Will this gateway lead me to the wormhole on the Tacoma Narrows bridge?
I like roundabouts- they keep traffic flowing. The pre Anderson Hill roundabout was a stop and go time chewing mess.
The Greaves Way Drive is the most beautiful drive in Kitsap County – in my opinion…and points the way to leaving Silverdale alone – no incorporation.
Thanks for upgrading the lights!