Date:  Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Contact:  
Lisa Copeland, region communication manager, 360-357-2789
Jerry Moore, project engineer, 360-565-0622

BREMERTON – Stabilization work on rocky cliffs above State Route 3 will slow the 71,000 vehicles that cruise through the area daily at 50 mph to a 35 mph roll.

Crews working on SR 3 in the Windy Point area between Gorst and State Route 304 in Bremerton will remove loose rock, add fences and bolt larger boulders to the slopes to protect travel. In the meantime, Kitsap County drivers will face increased commute times on this busy highway for the next seven weeks.

Starting Monday, Aug. 22, drivers can expect lane closures from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. weeknights while the Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) contractor, Rock & Co., shifts and narrows lanes through the mile-long construction zone. Reducing the lane widths will allow crews to safely perform their work while still maintaining four lanes for travel through the project area.

By Wednesday, Aug. 24, southbound drivers will be traveling on newly narrowed lanes and by Thursday, Aug. 25, northbound lane widths will also be reduced. Once traffic is shifted the speed limit will be dropped from 50 to 35 mph.

“Drivers will want to allow themselves plenty of time to reach their destinations during this project,” said Steve Roark, WSDOT assistant region administrator for construction. “This is where leaving early or heading out a bit later may pay big dividends.”

Though most of the work will occur during the day, any work requiring lane closures will be done at night. Backups and delays of up to 30 minutes are expected during weekday peak hours (6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.) because of the constricted lanes and lower speed limit. To keep drivers and crews safe, the work zone will remain in place 24/7 throughout the project duration.

Because reduced lane widths do not leave room for shoulders, WSDOT will stage pilot cars at both ends of the work zone to act as guides for bicyclists through the project limits. The service will be available 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more details about the project, including how to sign up to receive project information, the best times to travel during construction and other frequently asked questions, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr3/unstableslopes.

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