SR 305 High School Rd Pre-design
On this page: Welcome | What is a Pre-design? | Pre-design schedule | Target Zero | Intersection crash history | Funding | Intersection details | Proposed design concept | Traffic operations | Why Roundabouts? | Stay Connected
Welcome
The Washington State Department of Transportation is planning a roundabout on State Route 305 at the High School Road intersection on Bainbridge Island. WSDOT is planning safety improvements for those who drive, walk, bike or roll.
In this online open house, you will be guided through information about the pre-design and intersection, current design concept and the safety benefits of roundabouts. WSDOT wants to hear from you. Tell us about how you use this intersection. We'll use that information to make sure we build a roundabout that works for everyone who uses this intersection. This online open house is available through February 20, 2026.
An in-person open house will be held at the Woodward Middle School Commons from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 11. This is a drop-in style event. No formal presentation will occur. Project team members will be on hand to answer questions. The content of the in-person and online open house will be the same.
What is a Pre-design?
The purpose of the pre-design phase is to create a preliminary design concept and cost estimate. Throughout the process, WSDOT focuses on gathering data and community input.
This pre-design also includes a Complete Streets analysis to identify improvements for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, mobility device users and transit riders. Learn more about Complete Streets.
When the pre-design phase is complete, this information will be passed to a WSDOT Project Engineering Office for the design phase of the project. See the “Pre-design Schedule” section of this online open house to learn more about what the pre-design team has completed so far.
Pre-design schedule
July - October 2025
- Data collection
- Local agency coordination meetings
- Community tabling event on the Seattle/Bainbridge Island ferry
October - November 2025
- Traffic analysis
- Preliminary design concept developed
December 2025
- Local agency coordination meetings
February 2026
- Community Engagement
Summer 2026
- Pre-design ends
Location map for the proposed roundabout on State Route 305 at High School Road intersection on Bainbridge IslandTarget Zero
Washington State has a strategic highway safety plan entitled Target Zero. The plan’s goal is to reduce serious and fatal crashes on state highways to zero by the year 2030. The plan achieves this goal through crash reduction and crash prevention strategies.
The Federal Highway Administration and WSDOT recognize roundabouts as a proven way to achieve both strategies. Roundabouts manage traffic speeds and reduce conflict points. They shorten pedestrian and bicycle crossing distances.
Further roundabout information can be found in the “Why Roundabouts?” section of this online open house.
Intersection crash history
WSDOT periodically evaluates the crash history at all intersections in the state. This helps WSDOT find intersections most in need of improvements. The SR 305 and High School Road intersection’s history of fatal and serious injury collisions placed it on WSDOT’s safety priority programming.
The evaluation process that led to the selection of SR 305/High School Road used data from 2015 to 2020. In that timeframe, 29 intersection-related crashes occurred. This includes one fatality and three serious injuries. Of the 29 crashes, there was one crash in which a driver struck a person crossing the road.
Between 2020 and 2024, there were 24 crashes. One involved a driver who struck someone crossing the road.
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.
After an in-depth review, WSDOT developed a safety plan for this intersection. The plan outlines ways to help manage travel speeds and reduce conflict points. A conflict point is where vehicles cross, merge or diverge.
A roundabout was the recommended solution because it will reduce the frequency and severity of all targeted crash types. It will also improve connections for active transportation users.
Funding
Funding for the project is through WSDOT's I2 safety program. This pot of money is dedicated to safety improvement projects. It is separate from the money set aside for other roundabouts on SR 305.
In 2017, a Kitsap Transit led “Needs and Opportunities Study” recommended several intersections along the SR 305 corridor to be upgraded to roundabouts to help prevent collisions and ease traffic flow during peak commute hours.
Some of these intersections include Adas Will Lane, West Port Madison Road, Johnson Road and Day Road. These roundabouts are funded through the 2015 Connecting Washington transportation package. Projects funded through that package are independent of projects funded through WSDOT’s safety program and are on separate timelines.
The budget for this project is $4 million. This includes preliminary engineering, right-of-way and construction. Costs are subject to change based on final design factors and project award.
Intersection details
SR 305 is a major highway in northern Kitsap County. It is a commuter route. It connects Poulsbo and Bainbridge Island and includes the Seattle-Bainbridge ferry route. SR 305 daily traffic volumes are approximately 14,000 vehicles north of High School Road and 9,200 vehicles south of High School Road. About 5.4% of these vehicles are large trucks. SR 305 has a posted speed of 40 miles per hour through the intersection.
This intersection is near a variety of destinations including commercial businesses and residences. The Sound to Olympics Trail crosses the intersection diagonally. This means vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians alike use this intersection. High School Road is one lane in each direction with a speed limit of 25 mph.
The intersection is just under one mile from the Bainbridge Island ferry terminal. This terminal serves the Seattle to Bainbridge Island ferry route. This route has the highest ridership in the Washington State Ferry System. WSDOT is aware that there are times when the ferry queue reaches this intersection. Data collection and interviews suggest that these extended queues are very infrequent. They tend to occur at times with service disruptions, smaller vessels on the route or peak ridership times such as summer holidays.
Proposed design concept
Conceptual view of the proposed roundabout at SR 305 and High School RoadThe proposed roundabout has several features.
- This design includes connections to the Sound to Olympics Trail. North of the intersection, there is an additional connection proposed from the Kitsap Transit bus stop to the trail.
3D model of a raised crossing at a splitter island in the proposed roundabout - The proposed roundabout has splitter islands. Splitter islands are designed to slow and direct traffic into the roundabout.
- The splitter islands also provide a safety refuge for pedestrians and bicyclists between vehicle traffic directions if they choose to cross only one direction of traffic at a time.
- There are separate crossings for people walking and biking.
- All crossings will be raised and include rectangular rapid flashing beacons to alert drivers when someone is crossing.
- The roundabout has a 70-foot center island and shoulder curbing. The center island, splitter islands and outer curbs are raised. They are drivable surfaces. This feature allows the roundabout to accommodate all legal sized loads. This includes fire trucks, semi-trucks and buses.
- The proposed design includes one exit lane going north and a widened splitter island. If future traffic volumes require an extra through lane traveling north on SR 305, the part of the splitter island could be removed to add an additional exit lane.
3D view of the proposed roundabout at SR 305 and High School Road If I ride a bike, what are my options at the roundabout?
- Bicyclists can choose, depending upon their comfort level, whether to:
- Ride with traffic through the roundabout
- Use the designated crossings. For additional information, visit WSDOT’s walking and biking through roundabouts website.
Traffic operations
The lane configuration of the roundabout will manage traffic flows with minimal delay and congestion based on 2025 and projected 2045 traffic volumes.
Why Roundabouts?
Roundabouts are safer than traditional stop sign or signal-controlled intersections. Roundabouts reduce injury crashes by 75 percent at intersections where stop signs or signals were used. This is according to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. There are several reasons why roundabouts help reduce the likelihood and severity of crashes:
Low travel speeds – Drivers must slow down and yield to traffic before entering a roundabout. Speeds in the roundabout are typically between 15 and 20 miles per hour. The few crashes that occur in roundabouts are typically minor and cause few injuries since they occur at such low speeds.
No light to beat – Roundabouts are designed to promote a continuous flow of traffic. Drivers yield to traffic before entering a roundabout. If there is no traffic in the roundabout, drivers are not required to stop. Drivers don’t have the incentive to speed up to try and “beat the light,” like they might at a traditional intersection. This is also beneficial when the power goes out. There is no confusion over an all-way stop.
One-way travel – Roads are gently curved to direct drivers into the intersection. The roadway directs them to travel counterclockwise around the roundabout. This eliminates the possibility for T-bone and head-on crashes.
Reduce delay and improve traffic flow – Roundabouts move more traffic through an intersection than traffic signals. Roundabouts promote a continuous flow of traffic. Drivers don’t have to wait for a green light at a roundabout to get through the intersection.
Less expensive to maintain – Traffic signals are high maintenance. They need electricity, software and electrical components to operate. Roundabouts are more affordable to maintain.
To learn more about these topics and other benefits of roundabouts, visit WSDOT’s roundabout webpage.
How do I drive a roundabout?
Stay Connected
Visit the SR 305 High School Road Pre-design webpage.
Get email updates for major roadwork and construction on state highways in Kitsap County.
Contact the pre-design team at SR305HighSchoolRoad@wsdot.wa.gov
