Missing Mountain Road is Officially Open
Posted July 1, 2020 at 3:59 pm by Tim Dustrude
Missing Mountain Road with Jackson’s Beach in the background – John Dustrude photo
By Louise Dustrude
Friday Harbor Mayor Farhad Ghatan cuts the ribbon for the newly opened Missing Mountain Road – Louise Dustrude photo
A small crowd of supporters wearing masks and socially distancing from one another celebrated the opening of the new Missing Mountain Road on Wednesday at 1 pm. Several of those who spoke pointed out that it had taken some 25 years since the road was first proposed, by the town planning commission, and Mayor Farhad Ghatan spoke to the primary reason for the road, saying that Warbass Way is “not a proper roadway for heavy trucks.”
The road has been built to connect with trucks coming in by barge at the shipyard, its northern terminus, and then direct them to their destinations on the island without their having to go through town. How long it may take to get a barge landing constructed there was not addressed.
There was immediate traffic on the road as soon as the ceremony ended. Road striping will be done later this summer. The road was opened now, rather than later, because traffic helps to compact the chipseal, according to county engineer Colin Huntemer, who led the celebration.
Bill Watson was the first person to use the road – Louise Dustrude photo
Others who spoke included county council member Bill Watson, town administrator Duncan Wilson, county manager Mike Thomas, port commissioner Barbara Marrett, and San Juan Home Trust supporters Larry Soll and Sarah Crosby. Huntemer also thanked Island Rec director Maddie Ovenell and property owners Mike and Jeri Ahrenius, who were not present.
Huntemer’s daughter Sailor, who turned 9 years old on Wednesday, loaned her small motorized bike for the ceremony, and Bill Watson rode through immediately after the ribbon cutting, saying he would be the last non-street-legal vehicle on the road.
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Categories: Transportation
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