PRESS RELEASE- Discovery Road Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Improvements Project

No road closures planned

July 7, 2026 - PORT TOWNSEND – The City of Port Townsend will start construction of the Discovery Road Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Improvements Project on Monday July 13, 2026. The project area is located between McClellan Street and 100 feet east of Sheridan Street on Discovery Road/19th Street. These improvements essentially complete the City’s Discovery Road project connecting Rainier Street with Sheridan Street. The project will install separated bicycle lanes, signage, pavement markings, intersection bicycle lane markings, and pedestrian/bicyclists mixing zone crossing improvements. ADA, stormwater, and road resurfacing upgrades will also be completed. For example, a new speed table will be constructed at the Discovery Road/Grant Street intersection, which can be used by both pedestrians and bicyclists entering the two-way cycle track which starts on the southwest corner of Discovery Road and Grant Street. No road closures are planned, and flaggers will be present to direct traffic safely around the project work.

Project Area:

The project area extends from Grant Street to approximately 100 feet east of Sheridan Street on Discovery Road/19th Street:

School Access:

This project has been timed to occur primarily when school is on summer break. Construction is anticipated to be complete before school starts back up on September 1, 2026

Access for Residents:

All adjacent residents will have access to their driveways. Any work at driveways will be coordinated directly with the resident using the driveway.

Traffic Control During Construction:

When heavy construction gets underway, traffic patterns will be modified in the project area. No road closures are planned. There will be message boards, signs, and flaggers that will help direct traffic. Impacts to bus or transit routes/stops have been coordinated with those agencies with advance notice. The City asks that all motorists drive slowly near the work zone and in the surrounding area as a courtesy to neighbors/construction workers and for safety.

Project Duration:

The construction contract has a duration of up to forty working days. Depending on weather and other unforeseen conditions, the project will likely be finished in late August 2026.

Contact:

For questions about this project, please contact City of Port Townsend’s project manager, Laura Parsons, P.E. 360-774-3017 or lparsons@cityofpt.us