Construction begins May 13 on two roundabouts along State Route 104, improvements that state department of transportation officials say will improve traffic flow on the approach to the Hood Canal Bridge.

The roundabout installations are years in the making and follow public outcry over the frequency and severity of collisions at two key intersections: Shine Road/Paradise Bay Road at State Route 104, and State Route 19 (Beaver Valley Road) and State Route 104.

The change follows a Nov. 14 report in The Leader by Port Ludlow resident Lucrezia Paxson, who compiled data about fatal collisions between January 2018 and November 2023. Data for that time period, provided by Washington State Patrol (WSP), showed 247 accidents — 80 with injuries and 23 of which were serious or fatal on the 10-mile stretch of road — occurred between State Route 104 between mile markers four and 14 to access the Hood Canal Bridge.

About 17,000 vehicles travel the highway daily. It is one of two highways for traffic on or off the Olympic Peninsula, according to WSP.

The data shows that the intersection at Paradise Bay Road and SR104 was more dangerous than SR19 (Beaver Valley Road) and SR104, with 79 accidents in the last six years — 10 of them serious or fatal. The junction further west at SR104 and Beaver Valley Road saw 51 accidents in the same period. 

In February 2019, WSDOT published a report that analyzed traffic volumes and movement, safety considerations and operational efficiencies at these locations. The study recommended that a single-lane, metered roundabout be built at Shine Road/Paradise Bay Road and another roundabout at the intersection of SR104 and SR19 to improve the flow of traffic and reduce the potential and severity of head-on or serious injury collisions.

The project didn’t happen.

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) officials announced in March 2023 that there would be a delay due to “difficulty getting environmental permits.”

WSDOT spokesperson Mark Krulish wrote in an email to Paxson that other emergency projects on the peninsula had taken precedence, including most recently, the fish barrier removal projects.

At the time, state legislator Mike Chapman (D-District 24) who represents Jefferson County, expressed his dismay. “I am as frustrated as you are,” he said, adding, however, that this is the post-COVID reality. 

With the project approaching its start date, summer travelers can expect turn restrictions, intersection closures and detours throughout the summer traveling season.

According to the plan, the first roundabout will go in at the intersection of SR104 and SR19. The second will go in at the intersection of SR104 and Shine Road/Paradise Bay Road. Crews will build one at a time, starting with the roundabout at the intersection of 104 and 19.

WSDOT will provide advance notice of all temporary intersection changes on the WSDOT app and the online statewide travel map. Crews expect to complete work by spring 2025.

While travelers will see a lot of roadwork around the Olympic Peninsula this summer, WSDOT has tools for travelers. Travelers can sign up for email updates for projects in Jefferson and Clallam counties.

SIDEBAR

Road work schedule

State Route 104 at State Route 19

According to a WSDOT press release, “A single-lane roundabout will replace the existing intersection. This will reduce the severity of collisions since vehicles enter at an angle. Roundabouts also promote lower travel speeds and continuous traffic flow.”

This spring and summer, travelers will see temporary changes to the intersection. The changes include turn restrictions and a 21-day closure. During the closure, travelers will detour via Center Road. A temporary signal will keep people moving through the detour.

SR 104 at Shine Road/Paradise Bay Road

Later this summer, work will begin at Shine Road/Paradise Bay Road. Crews will build a metered roundabout at this intersection. The meter will only activate during Hood Canal Bridge span openings to help alleviate backups on Paradise Bay Road and Shine Road.  The meters will be installed on Highway 104 on each side of the roundabout and will stop a vehicle for a few seconds, then stop the next one in line briefly and so on. It’s the same approach used on busy freeway on-ramps to “meter” the flow of traffic onto the freeway. In this case, it will provide gaps in otherwise constant highway traffic that will allow traffic on Paradise Bay and Shine roads to enter the roundabout.

This fall, travelers will see temporary intersection closures on Paradise Bay Road and Shine Road.