Roundabout top option at Wyatt/Madison

Published 8:00 pm Wednesday, March 9, 2005

Intersection upgrade intended to relieve future traffic congestion.

Ready for roundabout round two?

The city Department of Public Works has recommended a new roundabout at the intersection of Wyatt Way and Madison Avenue, to increase safety and alleviate traffic congestion that could cause minute-long backups in five to eight years.

“The intersection is OK now and is probably at a ‘C’ (grade) level (in traffic congestion)” said project engineer Lorenz Eber during a public forum Monday to discuss Wyatt Way upgrades. “But soon it will be at an ‘F,’ and will not be too pleasant.”

Spurred by Wyatt Way’s high-priority status in the Non-Motorized Transportation Plan, the city hopes to upgrade the area between Grow Avenue and Homestead Lane by fall of 2005.

Plans include a narrow, tree-lined strip between new bike lanes and sidewalks on both sides of the street.

With $500,000 in limited-term federal grants expected to cover most expenses, Eber said the time is ripe to improve the intersection as well.

Eber, who championed the island’s first roundabout at the intersection of Madison and High School Road, strongly recommended a roundabout over a signal light intersection.

“It’s cheaper over time to maintain and is much safer,” he said.

Eber said various studies credit roundabouts for reducing traffic accidents by 50 percent.

The statistics hold true for Bainbridge as well, he added, citing studies that show that accidents at High School Road intersection have dropped from 14 in the three years before the roundabout to just seven in the last three years.

While the island’s first roundabout was met with passionate opposition, some of the 35 residents who attended the meeting said carousel-style intersections are starting to grow on them.

“Maybe this time you won’t need to put up something like 36 signs explaining the roundabout,” joked one resident.

“Yes, people are learning, and we won’t need such a forest of signs,” answered Eber.

Mac Gardiner, a resident of the nearby Wyatt Senior Residence Center, said he supports the roundabout design because it will mean less noise and fumes from vehicles continuously idling and revving up at what is now a four-way intersection.

“We must have our windows open for circulation and this makes the occupants subject to noise, pollution and distraction,” he said. “We get hit like in an echo chamber from motorcycles, trucks and buses.”

But not everyone is keen on the intersection’s redesign. Plans for a signal or a roundabout would require the city to claim portions of adjacent properties.

A roundabout likely would take significant chunks at each corner of the intersection, but very little from neighboring parcels. The signal light option would claim more private property overall, but spread acquisitions more evenly along Wyatt.

“These plans could destroy the character of my property,” said Chris Otorowski, who owns the Wyatt House office building at the intersection’s northwest corner. “It’s a small lot with not a lot of room. This looks like it could push in 15 feet.”

Madison Avenue Garage at the intersection’s southwest corner could also need to move its vehicle entrance over 30 feet south to meet state and city guidelines. The garage might have to merge its entrance with Four Swallows’ driveway, according to all plans presented.

The city hopes to work with area land owners to avoid forced acquisitions, said city engineer Roger Mustain.

“We’d prefer not to (condemn),” he said. “We’d like to negotiate.”

An old poplar at the northwest corner and other trees would likely get the ax, but Eber pledged to consult with a plant expert to save as many trees as possible.

Concept­ual intersection designs can be viewed online at www.ci.bainbridge-isl.wa.us.

Eber said that all plans presented are preliminary and illustrate sweeping changes that could be tempered by public input.

“Generally, we like to throw the big bad wolf out first,” Eber said. “And that’s what these plans are.”