PORT TOWNSEND — This morning’s two ribbon cuttings, one for each direction of the newly renovated Upper Sims Way, will signal the end of construction that has tied up traffic all year.
The southbound lane will be inaugurated at 11 a.m. today in front of Union Bank, 2200 W. Sims Way.
A second ceremony will follow across the street and one block north at 11:20 a.m. in front of the Port Townsend Laundromat and Carwash, 2115 W. Sims Way.
Mayor Michelle Sandoval and city staff are expected to attend both events.
The ribbon cuttings will kick off a day of celebration, with the theme of “We Survived” the mess and detours of the $7.1 million project, which redefined Sims Way from Howard to Thomas streets.
The celebration will include activities, sales and promotions that will continue all day, said Crafts Cottage owner Melanie Bozak.
As of Thursday afternoon, about 20 businesses had committed to joining the celebration.
These businesses are located on Sims Way between the newly constructed roundabouts intersecting with Howard Street at the edge of town and Thomas Street further north.
“This really looks great,” Bozak said. “It’s a nice entrance to the town.”
Bozak said the new paving and landscaping makes the area “look less like a strip mall.”
She said that the Thomas Street roundabout directly in front of her shop “has made my business look better.”
Merchants have worked to promote the event for several weeks, and persuaded the city to spend $3,500 in newspaper advertisements for this purpose.
They also set up a Facebook group, the Upper Sims Way Neighborhood Block Party at http://tinyurl.com/2euovl8, which had 39 confirmed guests as of Thursday afternoon.
With construction completed, landscaping is in progress.
The next step is to post signs that tell how to drive on a roundabout and to yield to traffic that is already in the circle, City Manager David Timmons said.
Signs that lead to specific businesses also are possible, he said.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.