The in basket: Jim Civilla and Julie Jones have asked about the deteriorating appearance of plantings along Highway 304 in Bremerton.
Jim wrote, “A couple of years ago the Navy Yard Highway was
completely changed. Businesses uprooted, roads changed…in an
effort to make the gateway into Bremerton more appealing.
“But, from the Highway 3 interchange all the way to the shipyard is
anything but beautiful. The weeds have taken over on both sides of
the road as well as the middle barrier.
“Who is responsible now for maintaining???” he asked. “And why
isn’t it being done?”
Julie focused on another part of that highway, including the curb
protrusions at Burwell Street intersections.
“They keep the downtown area near the ferry terminal looking
fantastic,” she wrote. “I love it down there. But I am wondering
what their plans are concerning other very visible, and what I
would consider important, parts of town – roads that visitors
take to get into town.
“Specifically I am asking if they have any plans for maintenance
along Burwell, especially those bump-outs, and the median along the
shipyard. Those areas are an embarrassing disgrace. The
median is so overgrown and full of weeds, and I spotted a very
healthy blackberry bush in one of the bump-outs near State Street.
on Burwell.
“Did the city not realize those plants would grow? Or that
weeds might invade those areas? Maybe they should have
invested in silk plants!
“If they can’t maintain the bump-outs, they ought to pull out all
the vegetation and fill them in with concrete. At least an
unsuspecting passerby won’t get snagged by a thorny blackberry
vine.
“And as for the median in front of the shipyard, the one that looked so great when they put it in a few years ago…please tell me they have a plan to get out there and clean up that mess.”
The out basket: I saw a city crew cleaning up a short stretch of the weeds near Kitsap Transit a few weeks ago, but the overgrowth is the dominating feature of that landscaping.
Gunnar Fridriksson of the city street engineers says, “This is a little frustrating for me personally, as well, having been involved with the design and construction of the corridor, watching it be reduced to weeds, overgrown shrubs and litter.
“The city is responsible for maintenance of the landscaping along Highway 304 from the ferry terminal to the interchange with Highway 3.
“The landscaping installed with the various 304 projects was based on citizen input from public outreach meetings during the design phase at a time when the city was more able to handle this maintenance. The city has seen significant budget/staff reductions over the last few years from the park and street departments and this work is low priority (compared) to park maintenance and street repairs.
“There have recently been a few volunteer groups who have contacted the city and expressed an interest in helping maintain these areas, and we are coordinating with them. If there are additional readers, or a business, who would like to help in this effort, we can provide information on the groups so that they could join in.”
The engineers’ phone number is (360) 473-5270.
Seems to me the entire effort was short-sighted. Did the geniuses ever think there would be maintenance involved in all their efforts to pretty the town? That there would never be a shortage of funds? That weeds would never overtake the bulbouts that really don’t serve any purpose? I don’t know where all the street/road repair is happening, but if there is any, I hope it is being contracted out so we taxpayers will get a decent product, not like the poor job that was done on 18th Street after the water main replacement. Oh, wait a minute – just don’t contract to the people who did the poor job of laying pavers on Fourth Street. I would be ashamed to have my name associated with that mess.