KINGSTON — Kingston residents should set out for that early morning cup of coffee on the way to work a little earlier starting Monday. Getting a burst of caffeine may be more challenging as crews start construction on the Miller Bay and West Kingston roads traffic signal next week.

This project is the first of two impacting the Miller Bay Road area, the second of which doesn’t have a definite start date but will begin this sometime this month.

“We don’t have a specific date yet, but I would say mid-June,” said Kitsap County Public Works project and design manager Dick Dadisman.

The second project hit a bump in the road in early May when bids came back $500,000 higher than county officials expected, but the needed funding was allocated, and construction will be moving forward.

The first project, on Miller Bay and West Kingston roads, is a straightforward traffic light installation with some road widening for turn lanes, Dadisman said. The project will cost $563,867 in county’s local road fund moneys, and construction is being done by Northern Con Ag.

The second project is more extensive, with traffic signals being installed at Miller Bay and Indianola roads and Miller Bay and Gunderson roads, and major road work including replacing a culvert with a bridge over Grover’s Creek, Dadisman said. That project will cost $3,333,424, with $2,515,424 coming from the county’s local road fund and the remainder from federal funding. Stan Palmer Construction was the lowest bidder.

“Miller Bay and all three connected roads are very dangerous,” said Kitsap County Commissioner Chris Endresen. “I’m thrilled to go out as this project is starting. It has been on the list a long time.”

No road closures are slated, but motorists should expect five- to 10-minute delays during the project, Dadisman said. The Miller Bay Road and West Kingston Road intersection will be completed in conjunction with the new Kingston High School opening. The second project will take quite a bit longer, hopefully wrapping up in about five or six months.

“No, I wouldn’t say there will be long waits, but there will be typical delays,” Dadisman said. “If at all possible, commuters should find different routes.”

“I’m very glad this is getting done,” Endresen said.

Drivers should also keep in mind that Puget Sound Energy is making improvements along Miller Bay Road throughout the summer as well.