Congressman Dicks: I’ll back the Roundabout

Congressman Norm Dicks, a former UW football lineman, is leading the way to get the Ocean Shores Roundabout project into the end zone.

Last week, Mayor Dean Bunkers gave Dicks and several of his staff a quick tour of various key Ocean Shores locations, including the Chance a la Mer and Point Brown avenues intersection where the Roundabout is planned.

Bunkers asked Dicks for $1.5 million to go toward the Roundabout/sidewalks project for downtown Ocean Shores. Dicks’ reply: Yes. The congressman said he is hoping to get the $1.5 million approved, as part of federal infrastructure funding. 

“We think there’s a very good chance it will happen,” Dicks said. “The Roundabout is moving forward.”

Dicks, who has represented the 6th Congressional District since 1976, has also been a member of the House Appropriations Committee since then.

While the Roundabout project has the best chance of speedy assistance from Washington, D.C., Dicks said he is open to helping with the Marina and Jetty.

“We’ve got to develop some kind of a strategy on the Marina,” he said. “The Quinaults own the Marina, and we’ll have some discussions with them and the city. There needs to be work done, dredging needs to be done.

“You’ve got to be able to get in and out of there.”

He has heard concerns about storm waves topping the Jetty, and flooding the southwest corner of Ocean Shores. 

“The Jetty continues to be an issue (with) water coming over the Jetty,” Dicks said. “We’re willing to work with the Corps of Engineers if there needs to be further solutions.”

Dicks was greeted by “Welcome Congressman Dicks” signs around town. He had good things to say about Bunkers and Ocean Shores’ new form of government.

“I was really impressed,” he said. “The mayor is an outstanding individual. You can tell he has a military background, and it seems like he knows everybody out there. 

“He has a good city council, they seem to have positive agenda, like building new roads . . .

“It’s a real difference from just a few years ago, when it was very difficult to deal with Ocean Shores, with the city manager system,” Dicks added. 

“I think it’s going to be a lot easier.”