POULSBO — Monday’s State Route 305 project meeting brought an unexpected surprise to all involved.

Puget Sound Energy will have flaggers posted at the intersection of SR 305 and Lincoln Road to close traffic in all directions for 15-minute intervals beginning at 9 p.m.

The announcement was made by Washington State Department of Transportation assistant project engineer David Garlington as he read a note from project engineer George Titterness, who was on vacation.

Poulsbo City Engineer Andrzej Kasiniak and Public Works Director Jeff Bauman said they were unaware of the closure and asked if PSE could delay the work until later in the week, so the public could be notified.

However, Garlington was informed that PSE officials said any delay would have “significant impacts” on the work, and Garlington in turn asked Bauman and Kasiniak for their recommendation.

Bauman expressed his displeasure about the situation and said he saw no choice other than to allow the work to proceed as schedule.

“I don’t like it, but I can’t see that we have much of choice,” Bauman said. “Let’s not make this a habit in the future.”

When told by the WSDOT inspector that PSE had attempted to contact him last week, Kasiniak said the contractors need to talk with the state about the project and that the only communication he wants on the project is with the state.