POULSBO — The long anticipated State Route 305 widening project will once again fill the city council agenda Wednesday night as issues concerning traffic control, fund transfers and wetlands mitigation are set for discussion.
“Everything seems to be moving forward and they want to advertise in May,†said City Engineer Andrzej Kasiniak.
In order for the state to meet its wetlands mitigation requirements for the project, the city must temporarily transfer ownership of two pieces of land to the state, he said.
One of the properties is located near Central Market, which will be used for the relocation of Dogfish Creek. The other is a 1.3-acre parcel of Mitchusson Park.
“They will give them back once they’re done and it can be a passive park with trails,†Kasiniak said.
The state will make the required improvements to the properties and after a three-year monitoring period, the state will follow the same procedure to return the properties to the city, he said.
During the project, the state will close a portion of SR 305 in order to complete Dogfish Creek culvert replacements.
To help offset the additional cost to the city in terms of traffic control assistance provided by the Poulsbo Police Department, the city will be reimbursed for an estimated $6,475.
“If they’re using our personnel, I’m glad to see that’s being included,†said Councilman Mike Regis.
One of his chief concerns about the upcoming highway widening project is a traffic management program, he said.
“I’m looking at (a) plan utilizing all jurisdictions: state, county and city,†Regis said.
SR 305 will be closed between Forest Rock Lane and Liberty Road and State Route 307 will be closed between SR 305 and just east of Bernt Road during the project. Both will be weekend closures only.
The closures will last from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday on those weekends, which will be determined later by the contractor.
During the SR 305 closure, traffic will be detoured up Forest Rock Lane and onto 10th Avenue before returning to the highway via Liberty Road.
During the SR 307 closure, traffic will be detoured along Stottlemyer and Lincoln roads before returning to SR 305.
A month-long closure of Lincoln Road between 8th and 10th avenues is also anticipated during the project.
During that closure, traffic will flow in both directions along SR 305, but there will be no turn lanes onto Lincoln Road.
In wrapping up the financial part of the project, the council will be asked to approve the transfer of the $3.3 million Transportation Improvement Board grant it received for the project to the state.
The council will also be asked to contribute $327,000 in matching funds required for the grant.
