Crews work to extend life of highway and bridges
BREMERTON – Orange construction signs and barrels signal an upcoming paving project on State Route 3 near Bremerton and SR 16 near Port Orchard in Kitsap County.
On Monday, July 17, contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will begin repaving several miles of each highway. Crews will also repair expansion joints on the highway bridges.
Weather-dependent work will occur during the overnight hours when traffic is lighter. Travelers can anticipate nightly lane and ramp closures beginning as early as 7 p.m. on weeknights and weekends. Travelers will also see the speed limit reduced to 45 mph during some phases of construction.
SR 16 paving
Travelers will see a westbound SR 16 work zone from Southeast Burley-Olalla Road to SR 160, Southeast Sedgwick Road. The work will repave more than 7 miles of the roadway.
SR 3 paving
Roadwork is planned on nearly 10 miles of northbound SR 3 between Bremerton and Silverdale. Work will mostly occur in the left lane between SR 304, Charleston Beach Road West, in Bremerton and SR 303 in Silverdale.
WSDOT encourages drivers to avoid distractions. Traffic fines double in work zones. Work is expected to wrap up in fall 2023.
Highway preservation
The highways are showing signs of wear and tear. Portions of the pavement are cracked and rutted. Workers will close lanes to grind out old asphalt and later install a fresh surface.
The work on bridge expansion joints will reduce the chances a joint will break and cause emergency closures. The roadwork extends the life of the highway and bridges.
WSDOT has tools to help people. Kitsap County travelers are encouraged to sign up for email updates. Real-time traffic information is available on the WSDOT app and real-time map.