State wants roundabouts on Stratford Road

MOSES LAKE - The state may add two roundabouts to the intersection of Stratford Road and state Route 17.

The Moses Lake City Council endorsed a preliminary plan to change the road, allowing the Washington State Department of Transportation to add it to the six-year transportation plan.

The estimated $6.5 million plan calls for one roundabout at both intersections with SR 17, according to city documents. The changes also include reducing the amount of traffic on Stratford Road to three lanes to accommodate 8-foot bicycle lanes and 6-foot sidewalks.

"The department of transportation needs an endorsement from the city to place this project on their six-year transportation plan. There is no guarantee that this project will be completed within six years," Municipal Services Director Gary Harer wrote. "However, monetary participation by the city will elevate this project on their priority list."

Staff suggested a $100,000 contribution, he stated, adding the project will increase safety for pedestrians and bicyclists crossing the bridge and motorists at the Walmart intersection.

Harer said the city facilities team requested sidewalks on the bridge over SR 17 for 10 to 20 years.

"Right now there's only a two-and-a-half, three-foot sidewalk on each side, a wide curb maybe is a better word for it," he said.

Department of transportation officials are concerned about collisions at the two intersections with the highway, Harer said.

"There are still a fair amount of accidents, especially at that north side, where that signal is," he said. "Some at the south side, at the on (and) off ramps, and the city is experiencing a fair amount of accidents at the (Walmart) intersection. Those are because of left turns, rear ends and those other accidents that signals contribute to."

It is possible to install another set of signals if the on and off ramps were moved, but it would mean there are three traffic signals within 900 feet, Harer said.

"Staff is a very big proponent of roundabouts. They're becoming very popular in Washington and other states," he said. "First of all, they're safer. In a roundabout, you get some indirect fender benders (because of) people misjudging some speed, versus signals where you get rear ends and T-bones."

Harer also pointed out people don't need to stop to enter a traffic circle.

He explained the city won't need to pay the $100,000 until the project starts.

Councilmember Karen Liebrecht asked what affect losing one lane on Stratford Road would have, pointing out it's a congested area.

Harer said the state modeled and studied roundabouts extensively, and officials think adding the roundabouts will improve the flow of traffic.

"You'd think taking a lane away wouldn't work, but it does," he said.

Councilmember Dick Deane supported the plan, saying for a $6.5 million project, a $100,000 pledge isn't a lot of money.

"I'm just surprised that roundabout is a four-letter word in Moses Lake," he said. "I will tell you, they put a roundabout outside of my granddaughter's school ... It has 2,500 kids in it and it almost totally relieved all of the pressure on the people going by."

Mayor Jon Lane asked if it would impact the businesses near the northern intersection with the highway.

"I don't believe so," Harer said. "It gives you, not a free right, but more of a yield to get on a right, and really, especially at those peak hours, it's hard to make a left there anyway," he said.

Harer added he is sure the department of transportation will contact the area business owners once the plan is developed.

Lane said the project makes some sense.