SEQUIM — The city’s second traffic roundabout — to be located at the busy Old Olympic Highway and Sequim-Dungeness Way intersection — is set to be built now that the City Council has awarded the construction contract.
Primo Construction of Carlsborg submitted the lower of the two bids received.
Council members approved the $194,200 contract Wednesday, and work on the traffic circle could start within two weeks.
Council members and city staff have taken some flak over the decisions to place roundabouts at the end of River Road and at the Old Olympic Highway intersection instead of using stop signs or traffic lights.
There have also been concerns voiced about traffic on Sequim-Dungeness Way, especially since the coming months will witness an explosion of development in that area.
High priority
Council members considered the new roundabout a high priority in order to manage the increasing — and increasingly fast — flow of vehicles.
“I think this is a good step forward, contrary to what some people hear,” Mayor Pro Tem John Beitzel said.
“It’s the most efficient way to do this,” said Councilman Don Hall.
“It might save a life or two as well,” added Beitzel.
The only other bidder on the Old Olympic roundabout was Lakeside Industries of Port Angeles, which submitted a proposal costing about $700 more than Primo Construction’s.