Background
SR 3 is an important corridor through Kitsap County. It moves people and goods and connects rural communities to nearby cities. The intersection with Division Avenue and West Pleasant Street is the last intersection along SR 3 on the west side of Gorst.
Washington State has a strategic highway safety plan called Target Zero. The goal is to reduce serious and fatal crashes on state highways to zero by the year 2030. The plan focuses on two aspects: crash reduction and crash prevention.
SR 3 and Division Avenue intersection was identified as a safety project based on crash data from 2015 to 2020. There were a total of 19 crashes during this period.
There was one fatality and one serious injury crash. Both occurred when making left turns trying to enter or exit Division Avenue. The most common type of crash at this intersection is entering at angle, or “T-bone” crashes. They accounted for 8 of the 19 total crashes. (42%).
Disclaimer: Under 23 U.S. Code 148 and 23 U.S. Code 407, safety data, reports, surveys, schedules, list compiled or collected for the purpose of identifying, evaluating, or planning the safety enhancement of potential crash sites, hazardous roadway conditions, or railway-highway crossings are not subject to discovery or admitted into evidence in a Federal or State court proceeding or considered for other purposes in any action for damages arising from any occurrence at a location mentioned or addressed in such report, surveys, schedules, lists, or data.
Project scope
The pre-design proposes a roundabout at the intersection of SR 3 and Division Avenue. A roundabout eliminates left turning vehicles. This reduces the fatal and serious injury crashes associated with this intersection. WSDOT is also looking at moving the location of the start of the southbound climbing lane. The southbound right lane currently begins just after West Pleasant Street. The climbing lane would begin west of the proposed roundabout. WSDOT analyzed truck speeds in the uphill direction and determined that 90% of trucks are going at or above the target speed of 35 mph.
Complete Streets
In 2022, the Washington State Legislature passed a law that implemented Complete Streets. WSDOT screens projects over $500,000 for Complete Streets. Complete Streets focuses on creating a safe travel environment for all users in population centers. This includes those who walk, bike, roll or use public transit. To learn more about Complete Streets, you can watch this video.
This pre-design addresses Complete Streets requirements due to its location in the Gorst population center. The pre-design recommends Complete Streets improvements between Division Avenue and West Pleasant Street. Those improvements are:
- A bike lane heading towards Gorst.
- A two-way pedestrian lane and shared bike lane utilizing the existing frontage road.
- A bike lane and sidewalk on the north side of SR 3 from east of Birch Avenue to West Pleasant Street.
Traffic Operations
A single lane roundabout will manage traffic flows with minimal delay and congestion based on 2050 traffic volumes. The roundabout is proposed to be built wide enough for two lanes in the southbound direction. The roundabout will be opened with one lane. It can be restriped once traffic volumes warrant the second lane.
Planned future improvements
Another roundabout will be built nearby at Sam Christopherson Road. This is part of a fish barrier removal project. It is separate from this pre-design. More information can be found on the project webpage. This roundabout is intended to be compatible with that project. This pre-design is also separate from the SR 3 Gorst Area Planning and Environmental Linkages study.
Funding
The roundabout project is funded through the Highway Safety Improvement Program. The estimated cost to design and build the roundabout and Complete Streets improvements is $7.8 million. Cost and construction dates are subject to change.