Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Construction begins 2026, completion by 2028
The state Department of Transportation intends to install two roundabouts to assist the flow of traffic from State Route 3 onto the SR3 Freight Corridor, previously known as the Belfair Bypass.
The state Department of Transportation used a blog post to update North Mason on the state Route 3 Freight Corridor project, pushing back the expected construction year to 2026 instead of 2024 as it had been projected.
According to the blog post, the Move Ahead Washington funding package included two more roundabouts for the project, which are at the intersection of state Route 3 and state Route 302 near North Mason High School. The connections of the roundabouts will allow new local roads to be built by Mason County, but adding the roundabouts means more time is needed for design and environmental compliance.
"We fully understand some will be disappointed by this news," the blog post reads. "Please know that building a new state route is a methodical process with many requirements that need to be met. The addition of two roundabouts requires work that will extend the process. Although these new improvements represent a later-than-expected timeline, the good news is the Move Ahead Washington and Connecting Washington funding coming from the state Legislature ensures the lion's share of this project, including some new improvements, is funded."
The main elements of the project - including the 6-mile, two lane alternate route parallel to state Route 3 known as the freight corridor - are still planned, according to the blog post. The road is expected to open in 2028 with the new plans. A roundabout will connect state Route 3 and Southwest Lake Flora Road in Kitsap County on the north end of the project and two roundabouts near North Mason High School will connect with state Route 3 at the south end.
"The new highway will allow travelers to have a quicker ride through Belfair. There are few intersections, which shortens travel time and reduces slowing or stopping traffic," according to the blog post. "This is a complex project with many moving parts. We know regular users of SR 3 through Belfair are hoping for relief from the daily congestion. We're thankful for your patience as we work to bring this project to life."
For email updates about the SR 3 freight corridor and other WSDOT projects, sign up for email updates at http://www.tinyurl.com/y4ttjpxx.
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