New SR 20 roundabout will improve safety, mobility near Oak Harbor

(OAK HARBOR)– Construction will begin Monday, Sept. 22, on a compact roundabout that will improve mobility and safety along State Route 20 north of Oak Harbor. The new roundabout will be built at the intersection of SR 20 and West Fakkema Road.

Contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will complete most of the roundabout construction during a five-day, continuous closure of SR 20, scheduled for 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, through 5 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1. Weather could delay the schedule, according to a news release from WSDOT.

Prior to the extended weekend closure, travelers can expect single-lane closures beginning Monday, Sept. 22, with nightly full closures from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Westbound and eastbound SR 20 traffic will detour around closure using West Ault Field Road and Goldie Road. Local traffic on the east side of SR 20 will use Sleeper Road and Crescent Harbor Road.

The remaining work will be completed during nighttime lane and shoulder closures, before the $2.8 million project concludes late Oct.

More than 17,000 vehicles travel along SR 20 at West Fakkema Road every day, which is up 6% from 2015. Drivers at the intersection are encountering more traffic traveling at speeds up to 55 mph.

The new roundabout will slow vehicle speeds near the intersection, calm traffic and reduce the number of potential conflict points, making for easier decisions for drivers. It also will include a center island that large trucks can drive over, making it easier for them to navigate.