SR 104 - Paradise Bay - Shine Road & SR 19 - Intersection Safety Improvements

The intersection of State Route 104 and Paradise Bay-Shine Road Jefferson County has a history of serious-injury collisions. Nearly 17,000 vehicles and semis travel SR 104 each day, the only highway on or off the Olympic Peninsula. As such, WSDOT decided the intersection needed a closer look.

In February 2019, WSDOT published a Intersection Control Evaluation (ICE) report that analyzed traffic volumes and movement, safety considerations and operational efficiencies at these locations. The study recommended a single-lane, metered roundabout be built at Shine Road/Paradise Bay Road and another roundabout SR 19 to improve the flow of traffic and reduce the potential and severity of head-on or serious injury collisions.

Studies have shown that roundabouts are safer than a traditional stop sign or signal-controlled intersection. Roundabouts: 

• Promote lower travel speeds and continuous traffic flow. Roundabouts force drivers to slow down and allow them to safely continue on their journey with less delay when compared to a signal. 
• Are designed to accommodate the largest legal loads, including semis.
• Reduce the potential for head-on or t-bone type collisions.
• Are more environmentally-friendly than signals. Roundabouts have a smaller carbon footprint and produce less "hot spots."