Washington State Route 304
Encyclopedia
State Route 304 is a road in Kitsap County, Washington, United States
. Its western end is at an interchange with the SR 3 freeway in Bremerton
. The road runs in an easterly direction to the Bremerton state ferry terminal
. This is where the road itself ends, but RCW 47.17.556 designates the ferry route from Bremerton to downtown Seattle as part of SR 304.
on a roadway named South Charleston Boulevard, paralleling Sinclair Inlet
and a rail line belonging to the Puget Sound and Pacific Railroad
. The highway travels northeast until an intersection with SR 310, where the highway turns east along Burwell Street. Continuing through the city of Bremerton, the highway parallels Naval Base Kitsap
before turning south at Pacific Avenue, which leads to the ferry terminal. This is the end of the pavement for SR 304, however the state code defines the ferry across Puget Sound
as part of the highway as well.
Every year the Washington State Department of Transportation
(WSDOT) conducts a series of surveys on its highways in the state to measure traffic volume. This is expressed in terms of average annual daily traffic (AADT), which is a measure of traffic volume for any average day of the year. In 2009, WSDOT calculated that as many as 25,000 cars used the highway between SR and SR 304, and as few as 960 cars used the highway at the ferry terminal. The entire highway is listed on both the WSDOT List of Highways of Statewide Significance, which marks this portion of the highway as critical to connecting major communities in the state, and the National Highway System
, a system of roads that are important to the nation's economy, defense and mobility.
, SR 304 was part of Primary State Highway 21.
{| class=wikitable
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|Navy Yard City
|0.00–0.77
|
|Interchange
|-
|rowspan=3|Bremerton
|1.66
|
|
|-
|2.62
|
|
|-
|3.14
|colspan=2 align=center|Seattle-Bremerton Ferry
across Puget Sound
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Its western end is at an interchange with the SR 3 freeway in Bremerton
Bremerton, Washington
Bremerton is a city in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. The population was 38,790 at the 2011 State Estimate, making it the largest city on the Olympic Peninsula. Bremerton is home to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Bremerton Annex of Naval Base Kitsap...
. The road runs in an easterly direction to the Bremerton state ferry terminal
Washington State Ferries
Washington State Ferries is a passenger and automobile ferry service owned and operated by the Washington State Department of Transportation that serves communities on Puget Sound and in the San Juan Islands. It is the most used ferry system in the world and the largest passenger and automobile...
. This is where the road itself ends, but RCW 47.17.556 designates the ferry route from Bremerton to downtown Seattle as part of SR 304.
Route description
SR 304 begins at SR 3 near Navy Yard CityNavy Yard City, Washington
Navy Yard City is a census-designated place in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,477 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Navy Yard City is located at ....
on a roadway named South Charleston Boulevard, paralleling Sinclair Inlet
Sinclair Inlet
Sinclair Inlet is an arm of Puget Sound in Kitsap County, Washington, USA. It is the southwestern extension of Port Orchard, and it touches the shores of three of Kitsap County's four incorporated cities: Bremerton, Bainbridge Island, and Port Orchard. It is connected to Dyes Inlet by the Port...
and a rail line belonging to the Puget Sound and Pacific Railroad
Puget Sound and Pacific Railroad
The Puget Sound and Pacific Railroad is headquartered in Elma, Washington. The company began operations on August 30, 1997, when the line was purchased from the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway by the ParkSierra Railgroup...
. The highway travels northeast until an intersection with SR 310, where the highway turns east along Burwell Street. Continuing through the city of Bremerton, the highway parallels Naval Base Kitsap
Naval Base Kitsap
Naval Base Kitsap is a U.S. Navy base located on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington state. It was created in 2004 by merging the former Naval Station Bremerton with Naval Submarine Base Bangor...
before turning south at Pacific Avenue, which leads to the ferry terminal. This is the end of the pavement for SR 304, however the state code defines the ferry across Puget Sound
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
as part of the highway as well.
Every year the Washington State Department of Transportation
Washington State Department of Transportation
The Washington State Department of Transportation , was established in 1905. The agency, led by a Secretary and overseen by the Governor, is a Washington governmental agency that constructs, maintains, and regulates the use of the state's transportation infrastructure...
(WSDOT) conducts a series of surveys on its highways in the state to measure traffic volume. This is expressed in terms of average annual daily traffic (AADT), which is a measure of traffic volume for any average day of the year. In 2009, WSDOT calculated that as many as 25,000 cars used the highway between SR and SR 304, and as few as 960 cars used the highway at the ferry terminal. The entire highway is listed on both the WSDOT List of Highways of Statewide Significance, which marks this portion of the highway as critical to connecting major communities in the state, and the National Highway System
National Highway System (United States)
The National Highway System is a network of strategic highways within the United States, including the Interstate Highway System and other roads serving major airports, ports, rail or truck terminals, railway stations, pipeline terminals and other strategic transport facilities.Individual states...
, a system of roads that are important to the nation's economy, defense and mobility.
History
Prior to the 1964 state highway renumbering1964 state highway renumbering (Washington)
In 1963, a law was passed authorizing a new numbering for sign routes. In 1970 the legislative definitions were changed to use the sign route numbers but renamed state routes...
, SR 304 was part of Primary State Highway 21.
Major intersections
The entire route is in Kitsap County.{| class=wikitable
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|Navy Yard City
Navy Yard City, Washington
Navy Yard City is a census-designated place in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,477 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Navy Yard City is located at ....
|0.00–0.77
|
|Interchange
|-
|rowspan=3|Bremerton
|1.66
|
|
|-
|2.62
|
|
|-
|3.14
|colspan=2 align=center|Seattle-Bremerton Ferry
Seattle-Bremerton Ferry
The Seattle-Bremerton ferry is a ferry route across Puget Sound between Seattle and Bremerton, Washington. Since 1951 the only ferries employed on the route have belonged to the Washington state ferry system, currently the largest ferry system in the United States.-History:The Seattle-Bremerton...
across Puget Sound
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...