commuting between University Place and Port Orchard (Seattle, Tacoma: home, construction)

[akdlg]

I'm relocating to U.P. area, but has a job offer in Port Orchard. (I'm not living in Wasington state at this point.) I was wondering about the possibility of communting between these two places on a daily basis. I would really appreicate if someone could give me an idea on how long the drive might take and how bad the traffic might be, etc. Thanks a lot.

[Wanderlust07]

I lived in PO for the past 4 years and used to do the PO to Seattle commute, so I think I can guesstimate what the commute time might be. You'd be going in the opposite direction of the greatest concentration of traffic, but still across the Narrows bridge (which is now a toll bridge with a currently $3 one-way toll, see link at WSDOT - SR 16, Tacoma Narrows Bridge Project). On a good day (no accidents or other problems), you could probably make it into PO from UP in about 45 minutes. With traffic, however, your commute could be significantly extended. For some reason, people slow down on the bridge -- maybe this will change with the opening of the 2nd span, but I doubt it -- and it can be quite aggravating to be stuck behind an inexplicably pokey driver doing 10 or 15 mph under the speed limit. While the 2nd span of the Narrows was being built, people would slow way down to watch the construction, and it made me want to tear my hair out (reference the opening scene in "Office Space"). It is rare to actually do the speed limit over the bridge.

Hope you find this helpful. Good luck to you.

[princessvanessa]

Hi, My observation has been that the heavy traffic congestion in the morning is PO/Gig Harbor people heading east and the afternoon traffic congestion is these same people heading home (west-bound). Your commute would be the opposite so you would not be in the heaviest traffic. About the $3 bridge toll--get a transponder and for the first year you pay $1.50 for each eastbound trip. Also, you get to skip the toll booth hassle. We will be glad to have you in UP. It's a nice little town.