Government Transportation

Harborview Drive closing in south direction for roundabout construction

The dreaded resumption of the Harborview Drive closure for roundabout construction will begin on Feb. 28 and continue through July. The good news is the street won’t be shut down entirely as it was on Sept. 7-11 when Highway 16 crashes diverted drivers downtown and created a total standstill. Outside of those five days, the work of relocating sewer, storm-water and fresh-water lines from mid-August through October was conducted with only one lane closed and alternating traffic.

This time, Harborview will be closed southbound from North Harborview Drive to Stinson Avenue but open northbound, instead of alternating directions or switching them in accordance with morning and evening commutes. Flaggers will direct drivers and pedestrians.

“I think it was seen as the easiest, most understandable way to increase traffic as much as possible,” said city of Gig Harbor spokeswoman Laura Pettit. “They came to it as the best solution.”

So northbound travelers should expect slow going through the north end of town while those headed south are diverted to the same detour as last year.

“Please expect long traffic delays, slower speeds and lane shifts during this time,” the city stated in a press release.

To get from the Finholm District to Skansie Brothers Park, for example, normally about a mile, drivers will have to go all of the way out Burnham Drive to the Borgen Boulevard roundabouts, cross over the highway, proceed up Sehmel Drive, turn left on Bujacich Road past the fire station and prison, and turn left on Rosedale Street that drops down to the waterfront. Or, you could get on the highway at Borgen.

A pedestrian detour route will be set up through the work zone. Access to homes and businesses will be maintained. City contractor Active Construction has been made aware of summer events downtown, such as the Maritime Gig parade that marches through the area, and will work to lessen impacts whenever possible. Stinson Avenue will be closed to through traffic between Rosedale Street and Harborview.

Currently, Stinson tees into Harborview to form a three-way intersection. Traffic often backs up the Stinson hill from the stop sign at the bottom, resulting in a failing service level. The streets meet on a corner and make it challenging for vehicles and pedestrians to safely traverse.

“A roundabout provides a solution to all of these issues,” Pettitt said. “It will increase the level of service to an ‘A’ rating with minimal delay. It will remedy the geometric challenges of the existing intersection while increasing vehicle safety. Pedestrian safety will be enhanced by adding marked crosswalks with flashing beacons.”

The traffic revision shouldn’t affect public safety responses, said Police Chief Kelly Busey. Flaggers know they have to give priority to emergency vehicles, and if a barrier splits the town in half, officers can be divided between the north and south ends.

The city conducted a listening campaign toward the end of the fall construction and have launched an advanced communications plan. Already, signs are placed on nearby streets warning of the impending changes. The city will provide construction updates each Monday on its website at https:/www.cityofgigharbor.net/232/Active-Projects and Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cityofgigharbor. To sign up for text or email alerts when new information is posted, go to https://wa-gigharbor.civicplus.com/list.aspx.