Highway 3 Funding Secured
Legislators for the 35th Legislative District have successfully defended against proposed budget cuts, securing significant resources for the Highway 3 Freight Corridor. A joint statement released Thursday confirmed that the recently enacted supplemental capital and transportation budgets allocate nearly $44 million to ensure the continued advancement of the long-term project.
The legislative team for the district, comprising Senator Drew MacEwen (R-Shelton), Representative Dan Griffey (R-Allyn), and Representative Travis Couture (R-Allyn), identified the protection of this project as a primary objective for the current session. This effort followed the release of the governor’s proposed budget in December, which threatened to reduce funding and delay the work.
Corridor Development
MacEwen noted that initial assessments indicated the project risked facing additional postponements or a reduction in its priority level. He stated, “For far too long, our commuters and local businesses have dealt with grueling congestion that does more than just waste time; it compromises the safety of our community.”
Commonly referred to as the Belfair Bypass, the Highway 3 Freight Corridor project is intended to route traffic around Belfair to provide an alternative path for through-traffic. By redirecting freight and regional travelers away from the town center, the initiative aims to significantly lower traffic volume within Belfair while establishing a faster and more dependable connection between Kitsap and Mason counties. Lawmakers successfully secured $42.6 million specifically for Phase 2 of the SR 3/Belfair Area widening and safety improvements to maintain the project's momentum.
Toxicology Testing Backlog
In addition to local transportation concerns, the group also advocated for and secured over $4 million in funding to address a critical bottleneck at the Washington State Patrol toxicology laboratory. The state facility is currently managing a backlog of approximately 16,000 cases, resulting in DUI test processing times ranging from ten months to two years. Such delays routinely permit potentially impaired drivers to remain on the road while awaiting toxicology evidence.
Representative Griffey highlighted a fatal consequence of this backlog within the 35th District. He referenced a case from January 2024 where state troopers collected a blood sample from a driver suspected of drug impairment following a crash in Belfair. Due to a delay of over a year in processing the results, the driver continued to operate a vehicle and subsequently crossed into oncoming traffic near the Key Peninsula, resulting in the death of a motorcyclist.
The new funding will be utilized to increase the laboratory's capacity by hiring additional personnel and acquiring equipment. This budget allocation coincides with a new state law enabling accredited private laboratories to process DUI blood and breath tests, a measure intended to accelerate the clearance of the existing backlog.
Public Safety Investments
Beyond the Highway 3 corridor and toxicology lab funding, the lawmakers also emphasized the inclusion of resources for the Mason County 911 modernization and relocation project as a key capital budget victory. Griffey remarked, “When someone calls 911, every second matters. This is a critical investment for public safety and for the people behind the scenes who help save life every single day.”
Couture emphasized that these investments extend beyond transportation to ensure broader community resilience. “From a modern 911 center and stable power grids to the water systems that support our growing neighborhoods, these projects will make life in the 35th District more affordable and safer,” he said.
The 35th District’s capital budget has secured funding for several major transportation and infrastructure projects. The largest allocation, totaling $2.02 million, is designated for the acquisition of timber land in the Skokomish area. Another $2 million has been set aside to install safety jersey barriers at the intersection of US 101 and State Route 3.
Community services and transit also received significant support. The Squaxin Island Tribe’s paratransit support program was awarded $1.4 million, while general Squaxin Transit Service Support received $464,000. Additionally, $968,000 was allocated for initiatives focused on community preservation, education, and economic development.
Infrastructure upgrades in Mason County include $433,000 for the modernization and relocation of the county’s 911 system. Roadway improvements at the intersection of Wallace Kneeland Road and Shelton Springs Road are currently funded at $300,000, with a further $2.85 million projected for the 2027-2029 period. Finally, $103,000 is dedicated to grid resilience projects for Mason PUD 1.