Road Warrior: Belfair Bypass still in state's construction pipeline

The in basket: Melissa Eastlick of Grapeview writes: “I was hoping you could shed some light on whether folks have given up the fight to get a bypass road put in place to get through/around Belfair.

“There are a TON of us folks who live south of Belfair, but commute into Kitsap County every day. Getting home in the afternoons is an absolute NIGHTMARE, and it has only gotten worse over the past few years.

“We all thought that after a year of construction to add the center turn lane (through Belfair), traffic would be better, but it is not. People violate that lane and use it as a lane of travel well in advance of where they really want to turn ... OR, more often than not, people use it as a merge lane to get out into the traffic that is sitting STOPPED for no apparent reason up to the top of the hill, sometimes past the wrecking yard. 

“I DREAD having to stop at the grocery store or for gas in the afternoons, because it has been my experience that very few drivers will allow vehicles to turn out in front of them.”

“For a while, there seemed to be a lot of conversation and support for a bypass ... and it has seemingly died off. I haven't heard anything new about it for quite some time ... and it is DESPERATELY needed,” Melissa said.

The out basket: The state hasn’t given up on it, though state Sen. Tim Sheldon got it renamed the “SR3 Freight Corridor” in a recent legislative session.

Claudia Bingham-Baker, spokeswoman for the Olympic Region of state highways, said: “The Legislature funded the Belfair Bypass in the 2015 Connecting WA revenue package. WSDOT had done previous environmental work on the project, and we plan to update that document when the time comes.

“The funding for the project is slated to extend over three biennia -- 2019 through 2025, and that timeframe will include updating the environmental document, community outreach, design, purchasing property and construction.

“The scope of the project remains essentially unchanged from its original concept, which is to construct a new alignment for SR 3 around Belfair to relieve traffic congestion.”

Have a question for the Road Warrior? Call 360-792-9217 or email tvisb@wavecable.com.