SEQUIM — Locals, commuters and visitors can comment on an online open house for options to improve safety on U.S. Highway 101 from Palo Alto Road to just west of the Simdars Road interchange.
Those interested have through Thursday, to view and participate in the survey on the U.S. 101 East Sequim Road Project at engage.wsdot.wa.gov/us-101-east-sequim.
A survey on potential design options for the Simdars Road Interchange along with Happy Valley and Palo Alto Roads’ intersections with U.S. Highway 101 is open through Feb. 10. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash
In the survey, state Department of Transportation (DOT) planners ask for basic information, if you travel between Port Angeles and Sequim, why you travel, your three most important concerns about the area, and the five improvements most needed for the area.
Once the survey is complete, DOT planners say the pre-design study with recommended improvements will be completed in May in an effort to pursue and receive funding opportunities for the project.
“The input we receive will help us make recommendations for further screening and potential future projects on U.S. 101,” DOT planners write on the project’s website.
Dennis Engel, multi-modal planning manager, said prior to the survey going live on Jan. 27 there were 14 suggested improvements, including possible roundabouts and rerouted roads on and along the highway.
Here is a summary of listed options:
Photo courtesy of WSDOT A few options for the U.S. 101 East Sequim Road Project include adding roundabouts at certain intersections of the highway including Happy Valley Road to improve safety.
• A new U.S. Highway 101 and Simdars Road on and off ramps — This would complete a long-planned westbound ramp from East Washington Street and an eastbound off ramp to Simdars Road.
One of the proposed options for the U.S. 101 East Sequim Road Project includes building a frontage road that diverts Happy Valley and Palo Alto Roads from the highway and to Simdars Road. Photo courtesy WSDOT
• Palo Alto Road to Simdars Road frontage road — This would build a two-lane frontage road from Palo Alto Road to Simdars Road and includes a new structure crossing Johnson Creek. Access to the highway from Happy Valley and Palo Alto roads would be closed and diverted to Simdars Road.
Photo courtesy WSDOT A few options for the U.S. 101 East Sequim Road Project include adding roundabouts at certain intersections of the highway including Happy Valley Road to improve safety.
• Happy Valley Road to Simdars Road frontage road — This would build a two-lane frontage road from Happy Valley Road to Simdars Road while closing access to the highway from the previous intersection.
• Palo Alto Road realignment to Whitefeather Way — This would realign some of Palo Alto Road into the Whitefeather Way intersection while closing access to the highway from the previous intersection.
• Happy Valley Road and highway roundabout — This would add a three-way roundabout at the Happy Valley Road and highway intersection.
• Palo Alto Road and highway roundabout — This would build a three-way roundabout at the Palo Alto Road and highway intersection. Palo Alto Road would realign to meet the roundabout location, north of the existing intersection.
• Combine Happy Valley, Palo Alto Road intersections into one roundabout — This would create local connections between Happy Valley and Palo Alto roads and take them to a roundabout at Whitefeather Way on the highway. Previous intersections from the two roads would be closed to the highway.
• Create local road connection from Happy Valley to Simdars Road — This would connect Happy Valley Road to Simdars Road and would extend Clearview Lane to Simdars Road.
Other proposed options by planners include:
• Placing advance warning signage for curves at the road.
• Installing message boards and cameras on the highway.
• Assign an Incident Response Team to assist local agencies with traffic incidents.
• Install a separated path across the highway to connect to the Olympic Discovery Trail.
• Make improvements to the Sequim Transit Center.
• Improve transit service in the area.
Municipalities have urged state officials to complete the Simdars Road bypass for years now after it was left incomplete in August 1999 because of a lack of funds.
City of Sequim officials previously reported that funding for the project could become available in a special legislative session or the 2023 legislative session.
Local agencies and municipalities estimated that to build the Simdars Road’s on- and off-ramps, construct a frontage road for Palo Alto Road and Happy Valley roads along the highway to the new interchange, and add landscaping to the Sequim entryway would cost about $26 million.
This pre-design work was funded through $1.3 million in state funds designated in 2019 and later delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more about the project, visit wsdot.wa.gov/construction-planning/search-studies/us-101-east-sequim-pre-design-study. Or, contact WSDOT planners Dennis Engel at 360-357-2651 or Dennis.Engel@wsdot.wa.gov; and Yvette Liufau at 360-357-2738 or Yvette.Liufau@wsdot.wa.gov.
