Before we get into specific projects today – I just wanted to remind those of you who drive through work zones this year to, please, leave space at driveways and intersections. Before you pull into an intersection, make sure there is room for your vehicle to fit so you don’t block traffic in other directions. When it comes to driveways, it may feel like you’re leaving an awkward gap but leaving room there allows other drivers to enter and leave the area without jamming up the other lane as someone waits for room to turn.
I know sometimes we all think the line of cars will move more than it does and we misjudge. If that does happens, try to get out of the way as much as you can and make sure you’re always aware of what’s going on ahead, not just following the car in front of you.
#SharpesCorner project
In just a couple hours, contractor crews from Tapani will open all legs of the SR 20 Miller/Gibralter roads roundabout from 7 p.m. today, April 26 until 6:30 a.m. Friday, April 27. Travelers in either direction of SR 20 or Miller Road or Gibralter Road will approach the intersection, look left and when clear, proceed into the roundabout, signal your exit and then travel through that exit. If there is not a vehicle or cyclist in the roundabout to your left, you do not need to come to a complete stop. While there likely won’t be many pedestrians in this area overnight, if there are, you must yield to them as well.
Crews will monitor the area tonight and work more tomorrow. A weekend schedule is TBD but stay tuned to our WSDOT North Twitter account for updates on that. There is no solid start date for Sharpes Corner lane reductions yet. They will likely start the second week of May following work next week on the lanes between the roundabout, drainage, striping and other finishing touches near Miller/Gibralter roads.
Anacortes paving
Crews have been busy grinding during the overnight hours this week. Tonight, starting at 9 p.m. they plan to start paving some of those ground down areas of SR 20 Spur/12th Street/Oakes Avenue. Flaggers will alternate traffic until 7 a.m. tomorrow morning. No work will happen over the weekend but some ground down sections could remain so make sure you’re slowing speeds though this stretch 24/7 until Lakeside Industry crews are able to complete paving work.
Cycling to the Anacortes ferry for Tour de Lopez?
For anyone cycling through Anacortes and onto the ferry for Tour de Lopez, know that the construction work mentioned above, could affect your trip. Avoid it by using Skagit County roads and/or the Tommy Thompson Trail off USBR 10 and then city roads through town.
Here is a link to a Skagit County Bike Map, which can help you choose alternate routes to the terminal.
You can check to see if the road you travel is scheduled for a closure by looking at our construction update page (I update it on Fridays). Then daily, when crews start closing a lane, our team calls in that closure to our 24/7 desk and it gets updated online. That info is also pushed to the WSDOT app and to 511. I’ve also been working to update closure information in highway news Facebook groups and on the WSDOT North Twitter page. Let me know if there is a forum I should be part of to help share this information which can quickly change due to weather and work progress.