BINGEN — There’s a new structure at the center of Bingen’s nearly completed roundabout and underpass project. Instead of a garden or fountain, a retired steel boat donated by SDS Lumber now graces the center island of the traffic circle.
Bingen Mayor Kelsey Ramsey fondly calls it the “round-a-boat.”
“I think some people hate it,” he said. But the design serves multiple purposes. “The roundabout is not just a roundabout for the sake of being a roundabout…You’re putting in a boat, so people are going to slow down.”
The boat was previously used for pushing logs around in the sawmill storage pond to keep them wet, but an updated sprinkler system eliminated the need for the boats. Keeping one as an art installation is a nod to Bingen’s history.
“It’s what built the town, the lumber industry,” Ramsey said. “Most of the city was originally built from SDS lumber for SDS employees.”
Bingen is also partnering with Gorge Makerspace and its students to add razzle-dazzle to the structure.
“We’re doing a little bit of metal work on the boat, installing some plexiglass, helping with the drainage and running electrical to it,” said Jack Perrin, owner and founder of Gorge Makerspace. “The idea is that there will be a backlight, a little glow, through the windows.”
Former Mayor Catherine Kiewit initiated the project. She helped coordinate the art donation from SDS Lumber, and assisted Bingen in receiving $13 million in project funding from Washington State Department of Transportation’s Connecting Washington program.
The roundabout intends to match other intersections along SR 14 that don’t use stoplights, such as in Carson. In addition, the underpass allows emergency vehicles, drivers and pedestrians to cross beneath the railroad to reach the Port of Klickitat land without waiting for a train to pass.
Round-about location in Bingen.
Courtesy City of Bingen
“I like that the roundabout is so tight that it forces people to slow down. It’s designed for 15 miles per hour,” Ramsey said. He also noted that while some drivers may end up on the apron, the raised bump ends up working as a speed bump, slowing cars down regardless.
Getting vehicles to step on the brakes is part of a bigger picture. Recently, the city has added 14 new stop signs through Bingen at various intersections, including on Franklin, Alder and Ash. Recent conversations at the council meeting have also leaned towards lowering the speed limit on SR 14 from 25 to 20 mph.
It’s all a preventive measure to stop what could be a big crash. Bingen is at the confluence of two highways, which Ramsey said means most drivers pass through quickly.
“We’re trying to make Bingen a place people want to stop at,” said Krista Loney, city administrator at Bingen City Hall. She also coined the phrase “round-a-boat.” “We may not be a destination, but you can slow down for a visit.”
A screenshot showing one of the boats used in the Bingen round-about in action.
Screenshot courtesy City of Bingen
She pointed to recent positive changes over the past few years, including grants the city has received to paint murals, the new e-bike lending library, electric car chargers and unique resale shops along the main drag.
“Bingen used to be — blink, and you miss it,” Loney added. “We’ve got good food, we’ve got great people, we want people to stop here.”
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