.png.jpg)
Tumwater will start its work on Capitol Boulevard next year in an effort to address several traffic issues in the area.
“Though this construction will be particularly disruptive,” said the city in a press release, “the short-term pain will pay off by reducing current and future traffic congestion at this key intersection.”
According to the city, work on the I-5/Trosper/Capitol Reconfiguration Project will begin after New Year’s Day, which will be the “first major construction phase” of the project.
Following the demolition of a building at 5301 Capitol Boulevard SW (the southwest corner at Trosper Road) and two others at 348 Lee Street SW, the city said it will proceed to rework Trosper Road and Capitol Boulevard. The area will contain “three roundabouts and the construction of a new street 6th Avenue SW from Lee Street SW to Trosper Road SW.”
The city is notifying residents, businesses and motorists in the area that there will be significant impacts on traffic, with the streets reduced to a single lane in each direction.
Tumwater cautioned that the first few months of next year will have crews working on utilities along Capitol Boulevard north and south of Trosper Road, moving on to reconfiguring the intersection of Trosper Road SW and Capitol Boulevard SW to accommodate three roundabouts
“Work will entail tearing up the road and sidewalks, repaving, and constructing a new street between Trosper Road and Lee Street,” said the city.
Tumwater explained that studies showed Trosper Road and Capitol Boulevard SW to be crucial to the Capitol Boulevard Corridor Project, funded by the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board with $9,829,120 and the city’s Transportation Fund in the Capital Facilities Plan with $3,200,000.
“Improvements to this intersection were prioritized as funding became available,” the city stated.
Concerned community members can subscribe to updates or visit the city’s project webpage for more information.
6 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
Citizen
Looks like another Tumwater disaster in the making. Tumwater does not maintain its current traffic circles. Weeds abound in the one at Barnes and Crosby. Is there a maintenance plan for the new circles?
How will anyone be able to access the circles with heavy freeway traffic moving into and out of the traffic circles? Do hope they have competitive bidding by competent companies and state approval each step of the way. So far they have failed to approve bids.
Never forget the citizens of Tumwater will be burden with attorney fees when accidents occur if elements of the design are proven flawed the causing accidents.
Tuesday, December 27, 2022 Report this
FirstOtter
Just another pork barreled cockamamie idea of Tumwater's. Maybe Tumwater should be renamed "Roundabout'..because instead of fixing roads, the city builds roundabouts. Then, as Citizen mentions, fails to maintain them. Whomever designs the roundabouts builds them up in the middle so you can't see oncoming traffic. Duh....
I bet my boots the roundabouts will be too small for the big semi's that come through there. There's a roundabout in Lacey on Pacific and Golf Course that routinely sees the semis taking up the entire two lanes and side swiping either the curb or the poor schmo in the car in the lane next to it.
Notice how the term "short term pain" is used. Short termed to me means a day and half. To Tumwater, I guess short term means a decade. Do the people who green lighted this stupid idea actually USE this intersection? I doubt it.
Roundabout Fever strikes again.
Tuesday, December 27, 2022 Report this
Southsoundguy
The traffic at that intersection was never that bad, it was fairly reasonable all things considered. I concur with the poster below, it’s an odd place for a traffic circle and doesn’t seem to be meeting any real demand. City must have had some money burning a hole in its pocket.
Wednesday, December 28, 2022 Report this
jimlazar
First Otter apparently does not understand the design of modern roundabouts.
Large trucks are EXPECTED to use all available lanes plus the center island. There is a "truck apron" designed into every modern roundabout. It has a small curb, one that will discourage autos from mounting it, but not a problem for large truck tires. That way the basic design can be intentionally slow for cars -- that reduces both the number of accidents and the seriousness of those accidents that do occur. Instead of being deadly T-bone accidents at conventional intersections, they are "glancing" accidents at low speed, very seldom causing injury.
Any auto trying to pass a truck in a roundabout is being dumb. Trucks need the full width. Be patient. Wait your turn. Proceed when safe.
The roundabouts in Lacey and Olympia have worked as intended, greatly improving both traffic flow and traffic safety. Nationally, roundabouts have reduced fatality rates at the intersections where they are installed by about 80%. While moving about 50% more cars per hour than conventional intersections. Plus, we avoid both the cost of installing and powering traffic signals -- and in a power outage, roundabouts work just fine.
I was skeptical of the "diverging diamond" installation where Marvin Road crosses I-5 in Lacey. But, after using it a few times, I recognize the engineering logic of that design. It works well to ensure that none of the traffic entering I-5 needs to make a left turn to do so. I do think that the entry ramp southbound is a bit excessive, but I think it's designed to accommodate a future entry ramp from south of Cabela's.
The landscaping in any roundabout should be designed for low maintenance. It's unfortunate if they are not being well-tended.
I recommend that people look at the American Society of Civil Engineers publication on modern roundabouts, available online at: https://www.asce.org/publications-and-news/civil-engineering-source/civil-engineering-magazine/issues/magazine-issue/article/2021/03/modern-roundabouts-boost-traffic-safety-and-efficiency
Thursday, December 29, 2022 Report this
JW
This comment section sounds like a bunch of old codgers that can't handle change. If you like sitting at intersections for longer than feel free to plan a different route. The rest of us under 70 will gladly use the roundabout which markedly improves traffic flow.
Thursday, December 29, 2022 Report this
KurtWochholz
I've studied the design on my maps and like it overall. It will be great for getting commercial traffic on to Linderson, which will lighten up the load on Capital. Some people here just don't seem to like roundabouts, but they are a reality of increasing population/vehicles.
Monday, January 2, 2023 Report this