Road Warrior

The in basket: Glenn Hostetter called to say he saw a puzzling thing coming out of Bremerton on Highway 304 on Monday. April 15. The line of cars he was in was met by a state Department of Transportation truck that pulled out in front of them just as they reached the merge with southbound Highway 3 traffic.

A second WSDOT truck did the same thing with the Highway 3 traffic. A car positioned itself between the two trucks as the caravan crawled toward Gorst at about 5 miles per hour. One of the trucks had an electronic sign on the back saying it was a rolling slow down.

When they got almost to Gorst, the car pulled to the side and the two trucks sped up and continued on their way.

Traffic in the other directions was proceeding normally.

What was it all about? he asked.

The out basket: Duke Stryker, head of the state maintenance crews here, said the slowdown kept traffic away from another state crew that was removing some debris from the roadway up ahead. He didn’t say what it was, but it clearly wasn’t big enough to require closure of a lane of the highway, with all the attendant signs and warnings, or small enough a state trooper could throw it onto the shoulder.

Rolling slow downs occur from time to time, but the only one I’ve ever witnessed personally involved a state patrol car weaving back and forth at slow speed across all the lanes of southbound Highway 3 as it approached Highway 304. I think that one involved a complicated traffic stop on the shoulder.

The in basket: I was at Parr Ford-Mazda the other day for  regular maintenance on my Mazda 3 and talking to general manager Larry Sharrett about their bright new electronic sign alongside Highway 3, with which the captive audience in the afternoon commute southbound on Highway 3 must be very familiar.

Ordinarily, I wouldn’t mention a new sign in this column, not even such a noticeable, attractive electronic one, but I had been wondering since I noticed the new one last summer if the new equipment had corrected what I found to be an annoying flaw in the old sign.

Its temperature readings, displayed along with the time among the changing information about car deals, were often wildly off, especially on warm days. I’d seen it claim a reading about 10 degrees higher than I knew to be the case.

I asked Larry if the thermometer that reads the temp had been replaced too.

The out basket: Yes, he said, though the real benefit from the new sign is energy efficiency. It takes about a third of the power of the sign it replaced, he said.

But the thermometer that controls the reading still is out where the sign is, surrounded by cars and asphalt.

I have found that this fall the temperature readings displayed now are within two degrees of what my car’s reading for ambient temperature says.

As I left the dealership, though, I noticed that when the time came up on the sign, the temperature was missing altogether. I hope I didn’t jinx it.

The in basket: Mary Barton e-mailed to say, “I’m wondering if you can tell me why Greaves Road in Silverdale was created.  “I was driving on Old Frontier from Trigger Avenue” she said, “and encountered this new (to me) intersection (Old Frontier and Greaves).  I took Greaves road by mistake probably because I was confused by the change.

“Greaves road is nice, wide and empty.  Why did we spend money on a road that isn’t used?   What if anything is the county planning for this new road, that if you take a left at

Highway 303 takes us to the worst intersections in the county?”

The out basket: The road (it’s name is actually Greaves Way) is intended to provide a more direct route between west Silverdale/rural Central Kitsap and that “worst” intersection, which gets one onto the Highway 3 and Highway 303 freeways, and to link Clear Creek and Old Frontier roads more directly, while providing access to an area designated by county planners as a major commercial area of the future.

A statement from the county says, “Discussion on design of this roadway was originally initiated in the 1990s, with funding acquired over the years from local and federal sources. (It) was added to the County’s Transportation Improvement Plan in 2000 to initiate design and engineering.  ”In 2006, the Kitsap County Comprehensive Plan expanded the Silverdale Urban Growth Area and added 450 acres of land for new opportunities for commercial, office and industrial uses. The new road was, and still is (the economy turned and the developments got put on hold), intended to provide a development catalyst to these lands by providing access to a wide-range of new employment and service opportunities for Kitsap County residents.

(It) was also offered as an alternate route into, and around, Silverdale, reducing congestions on Anderson Hill Road and Bucklin Hill Road,” the statement said.

The in basket: Tom Marcucci e-mailed to ask “Who should be notified of reckless driving on Highway 3 where it splits off to go down South Charleston Boulevard (into Bremerton) or north toward Poulsbo?

“I drive this stretch around 6:15 a.m. every morning headed to Silverdale,” Tom said, “and watch folks headed towards the shipyard hang in the left-hand lane between Gorst and this split point, then at the last second shove their way across three lanes right at the split point to get over to South Charleston Boulevard. It’s very dangerous and busy at that time of day… especially in the winter when it’s dark and wet.

“I can see why it would be difficult to put a traffic enforcement car at this spot,” he said, “…but something needs to be done. At 06:15 that stretch can be VERY hazardous driving!”

The out basket: The State Patrol is the agency with direct responsibility there, so I asked my State Patrol source, Trooper Russ Winger, if the actions Tom describes constitute a moving violation. He says they do.

“The law says you must signal intent to change lanes 100 feet prior to movement, changing only one lane at a time and only when safe to do so. You cannot make a sweeping lane change from the inside lane to the exit lane and comply with the law.

“This is even more dangerous in heavy traffic as you cut other drivers off with the illegal and unsafe lane changes.

“I have and will gladly stop and cite a driver making this movement.

“Failure to plan ahead is not an excuse – for me anyway- when a driver does this type of thing.”

This also would be good to know in Gorst for drivers coming off northbound Highway 3 onto Highway 16 and trying to get over three lanes to go to Port Orchard.

The in basket: JoAnne Stefanac writes “I have read, with interest, the list of upcoming/wished-for road projects in the area.  I noticed that the intersection of Sunnyslope Road and Highway 3 is on that list.

“Do you know what that upgrade is going to be?  Are they wanting to put a (please, God!) light at that intersection or (please, no, God!) one of those awful traffic circles?

“Living in Sunnyslope, I have to face this intersection quite often and, in all honesty, it scares me every time,” JoAnne said, “especially if I’m headed south on 3, going towards Belfair. There is so much traffic racing up that hill (everyone trying to outdo each other before they lose their passing lane) and there’s always someone wanting to turn left onto Sunnyslope Road.  Try that turn on a Friday around 5 p.m. and, well, good luck! ”
The out basket: Richard Warren, project director the long-range analysis,  oddly named the Bremerton Economic Development Study, told me the study recommends either a traffic signal or a roundabout at Sunnyslope Road and Highway 3, but doesn’t choose between them.

The completed study is online at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/BremertonEcon/ and that intersection is discussed on pages 89 and 98. Click on “Status” to see the report. Sunnyslope/3 got a ranking of 71 points, with other projects ranked at 46 to 75, in terms of importance.
“Please note that there is currently no funding committed or allocated for any of the project recommendations in the BEDS report.” Richard added.

The in basket: A few readers have suggested in the past that the state prohibit a maneuver one can see any weekday at the Loxie Eagans interchange on Highway 3 in Bremerton. Drivers in a hurry exit on that interchange’s off-ramp, scoot across Loxie Eagans Boulevard and re-enter traffic via the on-ramp, presumably skipping ahead of some of those backed up during rush hour who stayed in line.

Another reader said last year he’d seen that very prohibition at an interchange on another freeway on the other side of the Sound.

The state has declined to do it in the past. But not any more.

The out basket: Thursday, I learned from State Trooper Russ Winger of the Bremerton detachment that the state changed its mind late last year and put up signs saying only left and right turns are permitted at the head of that off-ramp. It also scrubbed off an arrow on the pavement that indicated that a straight-ahead movement could be made there.

It came as a surprise to me, as it’s been a long time since I’ve used that off-ramp. I asked Steve Bennett, operations engineer for state highways here, what changed their minds and he said, “We imposed the restriction after conversations with troopers in the area who thought it would help traffic flow and be something they could enforce.”

Russ Winger said, “This appears to be a regular maneuver for some commuters. I personally stopped a vehicle for the action just after the new signage went into effect. The driver did not deny doing it to cheat ahead in the backup.  In fact, he said ‘So you guys are taking away our little secret .’ Russ gave him a warning.

“We have been getting some complaints about motorists ignoring the road signage and lane restriction,” he said Thursday, and one of the detachment sergeants told him an emphasis patrol to underscore the change would be a good idea.

“The intent of the emphasis in the area will be to highlight the problem and attempt to gain better compliance,” Russ said. “Our troopers will likely be issuing citations rather than warning drivers. We believe sufficient warning time has elapsed since the signage was changed.” The date of the emphasis hasn’t been set.

“Loxie Eagans is a very busy and congested roadway during late afternoon rush hour,” he said. “Visibility is limited due to vehicles making right and left turns onto Loxie Eagans, as well as heavy east- and west-bound traffic. This makes crossing there both illegal and dangerous for all motorists.”

It also creates driver animosity among those who stay on the freeway and believe those making the maneuver are taking unfair advantage, he said.

The in basket: Dan Godecke of Lofall in North Kitsap says, “When (the state) put up the new cameras on Highway 3 from the bridge to Highway 305, they also installed a sign southbound on Highway 3 at Pioneer Hill.  It is one of the kind that has flashing yellow lights telling drivers to tune to a radio channel for highway information.
“I have seen this sign’s light come on three times now,” Dan wrote. “All three times it was the same message, “The Hood Canal Bridge is open for marine traffic at this time”.

“Why was this sign installed on the southbound direction of Highway 3 to tell southbound traffic that the bridge behind them is open for marine traffic?  Who going south could possibly care if the bridge behind them is open or closed?
“This brings up the second question.  Why was this sign (or another sign) not installed for northbound traffic.  The people going north on highway 3 would have a need to know if the bridge in front of them is closed.
“I am beginning to think that the people who dream up this stuff don’t drive on the highways or even have a clue what direction is north or south.”
The out basket: Well, I suppose there are a few drivers going south who might find the current status of the bridge helpful, but that’s not the explanation.

The messages Dan heard were a mistake, says Tony Leingang, freeway operations manager for this region.

“The sign installed at this location gave our regional Traffic Management Center a new tool to talk to motorists traveling south towards Bremerton and east towards Poulsbo when incidents affecting that area occur,” Tony said. “The recent project that installed the cameras and this sign also brought a new Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) transmitter located near SR 3/SR 305 and a new frequency of AM 1650. That is why the sign in question was added in this area.

“Hood Canal Bridge information on the HAR transmitter located near the bridge is supported by four different flashing beacon signs located

northbound on SR 3 at Lofall, westbound on SR 104 at Port Gamble,

eastbound on SR 104 near Paradise Bay and southbound on US 101 near the US 101/SR 104 junction.

“This group of devices asks motorists to tune to a different frequency (AM 530).l. That system has been in place for quite some time and covers Mr. Godecke’s concern about northbound SR 3 traffic receiving information relative to the bridge.

“I can only point to human error that must have occurred when the Pioneer Hill flashers were inadvertently activated relative to (bridge)activities. I apologize for the confusion and we are reviewing this with the staff now to ensure the issue gets resolved.”

The in basket: Glenn Shock of Lakeland Village in Allyn asks in an e-mail, “Are there any (state) road cameras in Kitsap County? We live at the highest point in Lakeland Village and get more snow, more often than most other areas.

“We have commitments in Bremerton and Silverdale and always wonder what the road conditions are between here and there.

“Are there cameras on highways 16 and 3 in Kitsap County?”

The out basket: Just one that will be of help checking on the route to Bremerton and Silverdale. It’s in Gorst at Sam Christopherson Road and Highway 3. It was installed during replacement of the east half of the Hood Canal Bridge when traffic was detoured through Gorst up the west side of Hood Canal.

Several others are on Highway 16 from Purdy south, installed during construction of the second Tacoma Narrows Bridge in connection with ramp metering stop lights and on Highway 3 north of Poulsbo, installed to help drivers anticipate closures of the Hood Canal Bridge to vehicle traffic.

Kelly Stowe of the state Department f Transportation says those from Purdy south are viewable at www.wsdot.com/traffic/tacoma/default.aspx. Those from Poulsbo north and the one in Gorst can be seen at www.wsdot.com/traffic/hoodcanal/default.aspx?cam=9191. It has one  between Brinnon and Quilcene on the west side of the canal, too.

The in basket: A fellow named Pete says, “This question concerns the off ramp intersection from Highway 3 northbound to Highway 305 in Poulsbo.

“At the end of the ramp, there are two right-turn lanes that are controlled by traffic lights.  The lights have right turn arrows in red, yellow and green.

“I have been taught that the red arrow to the right indicates that you are NOT allowed to make a right turn on red after stopping.  I’ve seen countless people make a right on red in BOTH of the right turn lanes that are controlled by those lights, even troopers and other police officers.

“What is the correct answer?  I’ve had other drivers honk at me because I wait for a green arrow. Does the red right-turn arrow mean NO turn on red or not?

The out basket: Turning right on a red light is permitted from either of those lanes, provided you come to a complete stop first and yield to any vehicles with a green light. It’s the same as on the Kitsap Mall Boulevard off-ramp on northbound Highway 3 and on 11th Street at Kitsap Way in Bremerton.

I told Pete I’d honk at him too if I was behind him if he just sat there at the red arrow light when it is safe and legal to make the turn.

The in basket: Back in July, Sally Harris of Belfair wrote, “Just wondering if there are any plans to eventually connect the Barney White Road on Highway 3 down to the Barney White Road on the Old Belfair Highway.
“It would save a lot of driving back and around when there is an accident on either one,” she said.

The out basket: I can’t find a Barney White Road spur off Old Belfair Highway, aka West Belfair Valley Road, on my map. But whether it’s there or not, the prospects for extending the segment that intersects Highway 3 are equally grim.

The same goes for a similar proposal made a few years ago to link Silverdale Way with Central Valley Road along a private right of way called Lone Maple just north of Island Lake. As I recall, fire officials find that one desirable to shorten response times.

There has been no discussion among county or city of Bremerton officials (a lot of the Barney White area is part of the city) about either extension, their officials tell me, and money for any kind of new road construction is in very short supply. An infusion of federal money, such as helped get Greaves Way built north of Silverdale, would likely be needed.