Cross-town Sequim commuters know how to get around Washington Street traffic.

Brackett Road has become one such shortcut. However, due to its width and proximity to buildings and land use with a high level of pedestrian activity, the Sequim City Council voted July 14 to make the road one-way between its intersections with West Washington Street and Ninth Avenue.

Not only has Brackett Road traffic increased because it is used as a Washington Street alternative, with proposed land uses for the area, city staff expects usage on that road to increase.

Developers have broken ground on a Schucks Auto Supply store, which is part of a larger shopping area likely to be placed at the Washington Street and Priest Road intersection called the Priest Road Center.

About one block west of Seventh Avenue, Brackett splits off to the right of the westbound lane and continues past Juniper Mobile Estates and the Red Ranch Inn to Priest Road.

The city’s plan is to eliminate the access through the pedestrian island at the road’s onset and force cars to circulate west. Traffic from the mobile home park still will be able to access Washington Street at the intersection.

Brackett will then become a two-way road once it moves beyond Ninth Avenue, continuing past The Vintage at Sequim to Priest Road.

The cost to the city is expected to be about $1,500 and a time for construction is yet to be determined.