City receives State permit for Winslow Way- SR 305 bicycle-lane conversion

Bainbridge Island has received a permit from the State of Washington for protected bicycle-lane work at Winslow Way and State Route 305, City Manager John Mauro told the City Council on October 27. He said the city hoped to carry out the work in November, with exact timing weather dependent.

The project would repurpose the former eastbound right-turn lane on Winslow Way at Olympic Drive / SR 305.

Mauro said the work would take place mostly at night to reduce traffic disruption. “We’re hoping we can make it happen in November,” he said, while cautioning that weather could change the schedule.

Why state approval was needed

A city staff report prepared for the August 12, 2025 council meeting identified that Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) approval was required before the city could implement changes. The report proposed replacing the blocked right-turn lane with a permanent bicycles-only lane.

The lane has been blocked after WSDOT changed ferry-loading traffic arrangements in 2024. Those changes prohibited right turns from Winslow Way into the dedicated ferry lane on southbound SR 305. The bicycle project would give that former turn-lane space a new use.

What the city has proposed

The city’s project description calls for removing existing traffic markings, installing a mountable curb and bicycle markings, updating signs, and replacing a solid storm-drain cover with a grated cover. The project will be funded by a $25,000 budget amendment approved by the council on March 10, 2026.

The posted engineering drawing, dated March 12, 2026, shows a bicycle lane approaching the intersection, a mountable curb separating it from vehicle space, and a green bicycle box near the crossing. The drawing is labeled “Plan for Approval.” It documents the proposed layout; it does not establish the exact scope or conditions of the permit Mauro reported receiving.