BLYN — Proposed changes in access to U.S. Highway 101 have received skeptical reviews from surrounding residents, but the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe’s chief operations officer stressed that it is merely a proposal at this point and public comments are being taken seriously.

“We do have the concern about the amount of traffic that passes on Old Blyn Highway past the tribal center,” said Annette Nesse.

The proposal is intended to provide better connections where East Sequim Bay Road, Old Blyn Highway and Highway 101 meet; help alleviate anticipated congestion along the 101 corridor; improve safety along the corridor; and accommodate future development needs in a safe manner, Nesse said.

Work would extend from Deerhawk Drive west to the 7 Cedars Casino.

Deerhawk Drive crosses 101, to Old Blyn Highway, which then forks with Old Blyn Highway continuing to the right and East Sequim Bay Road veering to the left.

The tribe has received a Bureau of Indian Affairs grant of $750,000 for one phase of the work and $670,000 for another.

The tribe plans to fund the entire proposal at an estimated cost of $30 million, Nesse said.

The project was one of 16 alternatives considered as plans were drawn up.

Construction is expected during the second quarter of 2012 to the fourth quarter of 2013.

Median controversial

The most controversial of several proposed changes is the creation of a median on Highway 101 that would block left turns on and off the highway in places and create U-turn lanes, such as those on Highway 101 east of Deer Park Road near Port Angeles, said David Garlington, assistant project engineer for the state Department of Transportation in Port Angeles.

Nesse said that more than 60 written and verbal comments were collected during an open house earlier this month, which was attended by 75 people, and that they all will be taken into consideration.

The proposed highway expansion would install six indirect left turns.

“It changes the whole traffic flow,” said Francisco de la Cruz, a retired engineer who has lived on East Sequim Bay Road for nearly eight years.

He would have to drive east on 101 from a realigned East Sequim Bay Road and make a U-turn to head back toward Blyn and Sequim.

“And this is supposed to be safer?” he asked . “They don’t have to do that now.”

Economic development

He added the project was not so much about safety as it was “only necessary if you want to do economic development like the tribe does.”

The tribe has plans for a multimillion-dollar expansion of 7 Cedars Casino and a hotel resort with a parking garage to the south of the casino.

The 101 proposal not only would limit left turns from county intersections, but also would allow only right turns on and off the highway, using medians.

Left-turn acceleration and deceleration lanes are proposed as well.

The intersections of Chicken Coop and Zaccardo roads with Highway 101 would be combined into one intersection.

Garlington said the state Department of Transportation is involved because the proposal was largely on state right of way.

“Basically, this is a developer project, not a DOT project,” he said, likening it to the highway improvements made in front of the new Walmart store east of Port Angeles off 101.

Similar changes elsewhere

Similar U-turn designs are planned for the four-lane 101 widening project between Shore and Kitchen-Dick roads between Port Angeles and Sequim.

Garlington said the proposal would meet Transportation design standards.

“With traffic getting heavier and heavier, the county road intersections are going to get to be what DOT calls failing intersections,” he said, explaining that when motorists have to wait too long to cross the highway, they might make risky decisions, causing collisions.

Nesse said the proposed realignment of East Sequim Bay Road would mean the road “would go more directly to 101, reducing traffic past the tribal center.”

More public comment

The tribe plans to schedule more open houses for public comment, Nesse said.

Of the comments received so far, she said, “They’re all constructive. Some supportive, some against.”

Those comments will be compiled and considered in the tribe’s decision.

“Most folks are concerned about limited turning movements,” she said.

“The project limits left-hand turns, and instead proposes right in and right out.”

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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.