As Sequim grows, its streets must change.

With an increase in population anticipated, more traffic and potentially more accidents, the city’s Public Works Department is looking at projects to create safer roadways.

One such project is Brackett Road. The department is proposing that the city council approve a plan to convert the road to one-way heading westbound between Washington Street and Priest Road.

According to interim Public Works director William Bullock, the proposal is a preventive measure.

“We’re starting to have different conflict hazards there,” Bullock said. “As that road becomes more of the shortcut to get to Wal-Mart and the new commercial plaza that’s going to go in on the corner of Priest Road and Washington, it’s going to become a different level of use than it is now.”

Brackett Road forks off West Washington Street west of Seventh Avenue, near Juniper Mobile Estates. The two lanes are divided by a pedestrian island, which Bullock says is not long enough to separate vehicles coming onto or off the roadway adequately, leaving them partially exposed and increasing the risk for motor vehicle collisions.

Under the proposal, vehicles coming from Juniper Mobile Estates still would have eastbound access but the rest of Brackett Road would be a one-way street. “That way people can circulate toward the west and hit the roundabout if they want to come east,” Bullock explained.

The pedestrian island would remain, with a curb and landscaping added. The project would cost $1,500, which could be paid for through proposed “citywide projects” funding under the Sequim Traffic Improvement Program. The program, which has yet to be approved by the city council, splits funding into subcategories of minor construction, pedestrian facilities, miscellaneous right of way, pavement rehabilitation and safety.

According to Bullock, these small funds are for projects that are too small to be added to the city’s larger six-year traffic plan or that come up unexpectedly.

“Sometimes these kinds of projects float into one another,” Bullock said. “Brackett Road is something that could fall into the citywide safety. It could also fall into citywide small works construction.”