Fjord Drive may remain two-way street

POULSBO — Fjord Drive in Old Town Poulsbo will likely remain a two-way street, though city leaders will wait to make a final decision until the end of the year.

Discussions on changing the arterial’s traffic flow began after heavy rains caused a landslide along its western edge in November 2009. The road has since been closed to southbound traffic between Hostmark Street and Sixth Avenue and repairs aren’t scheduled until 2011.

The city conducted an online survey asking residents and area drivers whether they want the road to remain a two-way street or become a one-way.

Thirty-nine percent of the survey’s 100 responders voted to leave Fjord Drive a two-way street. Twenty-two percent voted to make it a southbound one-way and 30 percent voted to make it a northbound one-way.

Four percent of responders voted to make Fjord a one-way between Ryen Street and Sixth Avenue only, and five percent of voters said they wanted alternative options.

Seventy-seven percent of responders said they live within city limits, and 55 percent of those said they reside in the Old Town area.

Old Town resident James Thayer told the City Council Wednesday night he’d prefer Fjord remain a two-way, but that speeding on Sixth Avenue is also a major concern.

“It’s noisy, it’s busy and traffic’s heavy at times,” he said.

Several other commenters agreed. Others said many of the side streets in Old Town badly need repaving.

The City Council will revisit the topic later this year after a Poulsbo Trails Plan is released. An improved pedestrian path or bike lane could be implemented along Fjord.

Roughly 3,200 cars travel Fjord daily and 3,800 cars travel Sixth Avenue. If Fjord were made a one-way, traffic on Sixth would likely reach close to 5,000 vehicles and side streets between Sixth and Fjord would see a marked increase in traffic as well, according to a study from city engineers.

Learn more at www.cityofpoulsbo.com.

Contact North Kitsap Herald Reporter Jennifer Morris at jmorris@northkitsapherald.com or 360-779-4464.

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