POULSBO — With the fish window rapidly closing and rains forecast for Thursday and Friday, state officials are concerned about the progress of the State Route 305 widening project.
Crews from Stan Palmer Construction of Port Orchard were expected to finish installing the necessary pilings to support the culverts under the highway Monday night, but the work hasn’t been easy.
“They had some trouble getting them in,†Washington State Department of Transportation Project Engineer George Titterness said Monday afternoon.
The state is keeping an eye on the weather, which could impact the culvert installation under the highway, Titterness said.
“We have until Oct. 15, and after that, we’ve never been in that situation before,†he said.
Because of the Oct. 15 deadline, which stops all work in wetlands and streams, the state is working with the contractor to get as much done as possible to avoid that scenario, Titterness said.
State Rep. Bev Woods (R-Kingston), who serves as ranking member on the House Transportation Committee, said if a problem with the fish window should arise, it is something that would be looked into to see if there is any leeway.
“It’s hard to ask them to put any more hours in day, because they’re already working so much,†Woods said.
City Engineer Andrzej Kasiniak said crews had some problems with the culvert installation, but he is confident the work can be completed before the fish window closes.
“Everything’s going OK. There shouldn’t be a problem with the fish window,†Kasiniak said.
Currently, no left turns are permitted at the SR 305/Lincoln Road intersection and access to Lincoln Road from the highway will be right in, right out.
The left turn lanes and that section of Iverson Street are expected to reopen Oct. 19. All of the traffic signals at the intersection will be inoperable during the culvert installation as well, and Poulsbo Police patrols of affected intersections have been increased.