PORT ANGELES — Clallam County’s three commissioners on Tuesday voted to initiate the Deer Park Road overpass project.

The resolution, approved unanimously in the regular board meeting, kick-starts a $7.5 million public works project to build an overpass over U.S. Highway 101 with a full-service rest area east of Port Angeles.

“This is the next logical step in the process,” said Commissioner Mike Chapman of Port Angeles.

The vote puts the project on the county’s annual plan and makes it eligible for federal funds if economic stimulus money comes down the pike.

Most of the funding is already in place. So far, $6,478,000 has been secured with primarily county and state funds.

Clallam Transit is investing $15,000. The county hopes to shore up the additional $990,000 through the federal transportation budget.

County officials said an overpass is needed over the highway because the intersections at Deer Park and Buchanan roads are dangerous.

“My wife and I live on Cedar Park Drive,” said Charles Strickland, who addressed the commissioners on Tuesday.

“When we access 101 from Buchanan Road, we’re terrified,” said Strickland.

There have been 47 reported wrecks and four fatalities at the two intersections since 2001, county statistics show.

County planners used a benefits matrix to settle on “Alternative L,” one of 10 designs conceived by David Evans Associates.

Eliminates left turns

The plan puts the overpass near Old Deer Park Road and eliminates left turns across the busy highway.

Pedestrians and cyclists can access the overpass from the Olympic Discovery Trail.

Support for the project, which has been in discussed for many years, is strong but not unanimous.

Ronald Browning shared his concerns about the overpass in Tuesday’s board meeting and in Monday’s work session.

“I really don’t know that it’s going to be beneficial to us,” said Browning, who also lives off Buchanan Road.

“In fact, it’s going to bring in a lot of people from Deer Park into the area.”

Turns in the proposal are too sharp, Browning said, and overpasses are susceptible to icing over.

Browning said he supports more planning with a possible underpass, overpass or stop light about a quarter-mile east of Deer Park Road.

Craig Jacobs, Clallam County public works director, said the earliest the Deer Park Overpass project would go to bid is the spring of 2010.

The city of Sequim last year turned down a rest area on Highway 101 near Simdars Road. About $3 million in state funds will be transferred from that proposal to the Deer Park project.

The enhanced Deer Park Scenic Gateway Center will have six vaulted toilet stalls, 40 parking spaces, a drinking fountain, new landscaping, a wooden fence and a Native American interpretative center.

Browning said he doesn’t have a problem turning left across U.S. Highway 101 because the stop lights near Wal-Mart pulsate the traffic.

County planners, however, say the long wait times for motorists at the troubled intersections will only get worse with expected growth.

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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.