Date:  Monday, September 15, 2008

Contact: Dave Chesson, WSDOT Communications, 360-757-5970 (Burlington)
             Todd Harrison, Assistant Regional Administrator, 360-757-5990 (Burlington)

ANACORTES – WSDOT has finished an important step in its design process for the roundabout at Sharpes Corner and wants to update drivers and local residents on the plan at an open house.

The open house will offer the community an opportunity to view a computer-generated picture of the roundabout for the first time and to talk with engineers and traffic experts.

Open house

• 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25.
• Anacortes Middle School library, 2200 M Ave., Anacortes

Sharpes Corner is the intersection of SR 20 and the SR 20 spur. An average of 30,000 drivers use the intersection daily, traveling to and from Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, Anacortes, San Juan Island ferries and more.

WSDOT sought public input on six designs in 2007 at the beginning of the planning phase. WSDOT used that information, along with traffic and collision data and expert analysis, to narrow the choices down to one: a modified roundabout.

The intersection experiences heavy congestion and severe backups and collisions, and conditions are expected to worsen as population and traffic increase in the area. Collision data for a three-year period (2004-2006) shows there were 80 collisions involving 152 vehicles, with 51 people injured.

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2011 and be completed by 2012.

For those unable to attend the open house, more information about the project is available on the WSDOT Web site at www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr20/sharpescornerinterchange, or by contacting Dave Chesson at chessod@wsdot.wa.gov or 360-757-5970.


Americans with Disabilities Act Information

The open house location is accessible to people with disabilities. Individuals requiring reasonable accommodations may request written materials in alternate formats, sign language interpreters, physical accessibility accommodations or other reasonable accommodation by contacting Shawn Murinko, at 360-705-7097. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Washington State Telecommunications Relay Service or Tele-Braille at 7-1-1, Voice 1-800-833-6384, and ask to be connected to Shawn Murinko.

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