HomeMy WebLinkAbout110324 email - Draft Six-Year Transportation Improvement ProgramALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Hello,
I have been reviewing the Draft Six-Year Transportation Improvement
Program.
I am quite interested in Project #23, the Rick Tollefson Trail -
Ballfield Connection.
I am a property owner of land to the north of this intersection
improvement, namely APN 901111005 and APN 90111019 to the north of that.
This intersection improvement has been on hold since 1993.
Since then the traffic in and around the intersection of Elkins Road and
Chimacum Road, Old Hadlock Road and Chimacum Road and Lopeman Road and
Chimacum Road has increased significantly.
As regards the Pomwell Road/Chimacum Road intersection. In testimony
before the Hearings Examiner on January 5, 1993; "Robert Nesbitt,
Jefferson County Public Works Department, County Engineer, testified to
the following: The Public Works Department considers the intersection to
be a hazardous intersection. Based on its accident history, it has a
rating of 11, " which places it near the top of the list of hazardous
intersections in the county"
I can personally testify that this intersection, 31 years latter is
still indeed hazardous. There is really no lane markings or
"channelization." In the Jefferson County QUIMPER PENINSULA
TRANSPORTATION STUDY Prepared for: Jefferson County Public Works January
2012, pg 39-40 is the following:
"Chimacum Road Improvements The intersection of Chimacum Road with
Elkins Road is located just west of the County Sheriff’s office and
north of Bob Bates Fields. The west approach intersects with the Old
Hadlock Road and Pomwell Road. At its present state, the intersection is
awkwardly designed with the west approach having no defined
channelization or lane markings which makes it a potentially unsafe
location for vehicles as well as pedestrians and bicyclists. The
intersection is also a likely crossing location for the Rick Tollefson
Trail. Reconstruction of the intersection will provide improved
channelization on the west approach and a center left-turn lane along
Chimacum Road to improve mobility, safety, and access. The improvements
at the intersection will also include pedestrian crossing enhancements
as part of the Rick Tollefson Trail and gateway features to identify the
entrance into the Port Hadlock UGA. This intersection also could be the
main access location to the proposed sewer treatment facility to the
west and currently provides access to a gravel pit, so future designs
will need to consider the needs and movements of heavy vehicles."
I have several proposals to alleviate this situation.
1. The complete elimination of Pomwell Road and the road approach. I
would access Lopeman Road to the north for APN 901111019 and the new
Intersection of Old Hadlock Road to the south for APN 901111005. Shold
Excavating and Cotton Redi-Mix already has a road approach onto Lopeman
Road. This would provide the best solution to the users of the Rick
Tollefson Trail.
2. The installation of a roundabout at the intersection of Elkins Road
and Chimacum Road. This would also include a turn lane to the north with
median strip to access Powell Road but restrict traffic from shooting
across Chimacum Road.
Currently the trucks going to and fro to the Shold/Cotton property and
the Shold pit have a tendency to shoot across Chimacum Road at an angle;
sometimes they do not stop!
Either of the two solutions above would end this practice as would
finalizing the vacation of Old Hadlock Road that has been languishing
since 1993.
Regards,
Craig & Joyce Durgan