Lower speeds possible for some County roads

Dangerous intersection to undergo more analysis

The County Commissioners will consider changing speeds on six Sequim-area roads that have been flagged for review by concerned citizens. After a four-year pause in processing citizen-led speed change requests, the County sprang into action after hearing public testimony last week from a group of residents living south of the temporary Towne Road closure.

Many people giving public comment last Tuesday had spent the previous eleven months begging commissioners to permanently close Towne Road, arguing that it was seldom used to carry traffic between Sequim and Dungeness and that closing the road would be inconsequential. Now, several of the same residents say that Towne Road is busy enough to warrant reducing the speed.

Last week, County Engineer Joe Donisi and County Administrator Todd Mielke visited the section of Towne Road between Woodcock Road and the Creamery. The road is too narrow for striping, has no defined shoulder, and has reduced visibility due to hills and embankments. Two accidents have been attributed to sight distance issues in the past 25 years.

Six days after hearing the testimony about Towne Road, county staff reported that pneumatic road tubes had been installed to count traffic and measure speeds — an uncharacteristically quick and highly efficient response from county government. The commissioners are also pushing for fast data collection, engineer reports, and a public hearing. The speed on Towne Road could be changed in mere weeks.

The recent plea of Towne Road residents triggered a review of six total citizen-recommended speed changes.

1. Residents want the Towne Road speed changed from 35 to 25 mph between Woodcock Road and East Anderson. Once opened, the road portion atop the new levee is already designated to be 25 mph due to curvature and grading; however, residents want the remaining 1.4 miles to Woodcock Road to be 25 mph, too.

   

   This section of Towne Road is currently 35 mph, but residents are asking for a reduction to 25 mph.

2. Some residents on 3 Crabs Road want the entire dead-end road reduced from 35 to 25 mph.

   

   The speed through the old “downtown” of Dungeness is already 25 mph, and some residents want that speed to continue to the end of 3 Crabs Road.

3. A section of Lotzgesell Road between Kitchen-Dick and Holgerson Roads, currently 45 mph, is being considered for a speed reduction. The entrance to the Dungeness Recreation Area, proximity to Five Acre School, and reduced visibility when entering Lotzgesell from Holgerson Road are factors being considered.

   

   The County also plans to soften the 90-degree turn from Kitchen-Dick Road onto Lotzgesell Road by making it a sweeping curve.

4. Evans Road has been requested for review, but county staff could not provide specifics about the citizen request.

   

   Evans Road has seen a drastic increase in traffic with the continued closure of Towne Road and intermittent closures of North Sequim Avenue.

   5 & 6. Gilbert and Gupster Roads in Carlsborg are both being considered for a reduction from 35 mph to 25.

   

Dangerous intersection

The commissioners and county administrator also discussed the intersection where Macleay and Cays Roads meet the Old Olympic Highway. Over five months ago, the Sequim Prairie Grange sent a letter and petition asking that the intersection be prioritized for safety improvements. The letter stated that 18 serious accidents had occurred at the intersection in the past seven years, resulting in injury and property damage. Since that letter, two additional accidents have occurred.

Old Olympic Highway once had a 90-degree curve that forced traffic to slow before approaching the dangerous intersection. Now, some eastbound traffic passing Carlsborg Road does not reduce speed from 50 to 40 mph. Cars entering the intersection from Macleay Road have impaired visibility caused by a row of trees and drivers misjudge the speed of northbound approaching cars.

The County has not determined what factors are causing accidents at the intersection but will review data to determine if safety improvements should be made. County Engineer Joe Donisi reminded the commissioners that safety improvements at the once-dangerous Woodcock Road and Sequim-Dungeness Way intersection took six or seven years to complete (that upgrade required a roundabout). The County has already installed a flashing LED stop sign at the intersection for westbound traffic on Old Olympic Highway.

Ozias responds to letter

Commissioner Ozias responded to last week’s letter alleging that he has prevented progress on Towne Road ten times. His response has been added to the bottom of Sunday’s article, “I am not beholden to the Tribe,” and can be viewed by clicking here and scrolling to the bottom.