Bremerton’s aging infrastructure getting much needed renovations
Jul 26, 2016, 7:06 AM | Updated: 8:40 am
The City of Bremerton will start several new pedestrian safety projects in the near future. (Chris Sullivan/KIRO Radio)
(Chris Sullivan/KIRO Radio)
A lot of Bremerton’s infrastructure hasn’t received too much TLC since being further developed around World War II. But with all the new developments downtown and around the city, its infrastructure is in desperate need of an upgrade.
Project manager Gus Brandon-Garcia in the city’s Public Works department says there are a lot of safety projects now underway to help make the city more pedestrian friendly. That work includes several intersection improvements that will make them ADA compliant. Additionally, the city will get two new pedestrian hybrid beacons.
Those hybrid signals will go in next to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. The signals are activated by pedestrians attempting to cross busy streets, and will be especially handy with all the shipyard workers coming and going.
There are as many as 20,000 people who commute to and from the shipyard every day. The number of people leaving at the end of the work day reminds Brandon-Garcia of huge a crowd of Mariners fans exiting Safeco Field.
Brandon-Garcia says they were able to get grant money to build these projects.
The city is also starting a major renovation of a lifeline through East Bremerton. Lebo Boulevard connects a hospital with the business district and several neighborhoods. It’s also the way to Lions Park, one of Kitsap County’s nicest mixed-use park.
“It’s a roadway that’s, again, lived its functional life,” Brandon-Garcia said. “It’s probably 75 years old. It was built during the second World War.”
It’s going to get new pavement and new lights. It’s also going to get some bike lanes and much larger sidewalks to accommodate the growing population.
Construction is set to begin on this project early next year.
