Proposed Silverdale roundabout draws heat

Published 4:53 pm Friday, January 28, 2011

Central Kitsap residents voiced concerns at an open house Tuesday over the roundabout that is set to be constructed in 2012 at the intersection where Silverdale Way and Newberry Hill Road meet Chico Way.

Concerns ranged from a roundabout creating more congestions at the intersection to the current design being too small.

“Nothing can resolve the huge amount of traffic in a short period of time,” said Tina Nelson, senior program manager with county public works, adding that the roundabout is designed to make the intersection safer.

Construction is scheduled to begin in March 2012 and will take about six months, Nelson said. The $2.1 million project will allow access to drivers during the construction process, she added. An estimated $1.5 million of the $2.1 million is construction costs. The rest of the project costs are design and permitting fees.

The roundabout will be 150 feet in diameter and will be built to accommodate two lanes, but will be striped for one lane at the beginning. Once the widening of Silverdale Way to four lanes is complete, the roundabout will be striped for two lanes, Nelson said. The widening of Silverdale Way from Byron Street to Anderson Hill Road is scheduled to begin construction in 2016 and will cost $3.1 million, Nelson said. Widening this segment of Silverdale Way and the roundabout project are covered in the county’s local roads fund. The expansion of Silverdale Way from the roundabout to Byron Street is not scheduled because there is no reserved money for it, she added.