Olympia closes part of Ensign Road for cleaning Wednesday, tows some vehicles
Olympia cleaning crews closed Ensign Road from Martin Way to the Providence Mother Joseph Care Center on Wednesday to clear debris left by people living in parked vehicles along the road.
Crews started cleaning the road at 8 a.m. and were scheduled to continue through 3 p.m. However, the city may extend the closure to Thursday if the project cannot be completed in a day, according to a Tuesday news release.
During the closure, the city only permitted emergency vehicles to pass through the road. People headed to Providence Mother Joseph Care Center, South Sound Oral Surgery and Laboratories Northwest needed to access Ensign Road via Lilly Road, according to the city.
On Wednesday, cleaning crews began removing garbage and debris as well as mitigating “water-quality hazards,” according to the release.
The city said the cleanup was necessary to address waste and road obstructions that have been built by people camping in vehicles along Ensign Road.
“In accordance with the One Community Plan, the City of Olympia has organized the clean-up to improve community health and safety,” the news release said.
The One Community Plan details the city’s response to homelessness, the Olympian previously reported. Adopted in 2020, the plan involves working closely with people who are homeless through case management and peer mentorships, but it also allows for occasional sweeps.
Those living in vehicles on Ensign Road were allowed to return after the cleanup, but they now need a permit issued by the city’s Homeless Response Team, according to the release.
By issuing permits, the city said it aims to limit the number of vehicles parked on the road.
The Olympian has asked the City of Olympia for more information on the permit process for Ensign Road.
This story was originally published May 25, 2022 at 9:30 AM.
