Road off the hill takes a few twists and turns

Published 10:37 am Thursday, December 11, 2008

By Dennis Box-The Courier-Herald

The Bonney Lake City Council decided to back an option to build a new east-west highway off the south Plateau that could be built sooner rather than later.

During an April 17 workshop, members discussed passing a resolution in support of various Rhodes Lake Road options or an east-west corridor off the Plateau.

Public Works Director Dan Grigsby described three alternatives with the first being improving the existing Rhodes Lake Road. The second option was building a highway that connects to 116th Street East, known as the southerly route 1. The third option is southerly route 3 that connects to 128th Street East.

Grigsby initially supported the second alternative, which would connect to 116th, because it gives more choices for people trying to get off the Plateau.

The problem with the route 1 option, according to Grigsby, &#8220it's not practical. We don't know when it would ever get done.”

The route would involve building a new road through farmland in the valley and considerable engineering problems.

Members of the Plateau Transportation Partnership, which includes the Cascadia development, Falling Water and Plateau 465, sent a recommendation to the council supporting route 3.

Patrick Healy, owners' representative for Falling Water, spoke for the partnership group to the council about the proposed routes.

&#8220We have the ability to build route (3),” Healy said. &#8220We have this under our control, but the other route we do not. From a practical reality point there is a route we have control of and could start building now.”

Healy told the members the partnership is not a &#8220fly-by-night group. We as a group and with Bonney Lake, we could work as partners and start immediately.”

Route 3 would involve improving existing roads and an existing bridge that crosses the Puyallup River.

After discussion, the council decided to pass a resolution in support of route 3.

&#8220I think we should support this knowing we can get almost immediate action,' Councilman Jim Rackley said.

The measure passed with a no vote from Councilman Dave King; Councilwoman Cheryle Noble was not in attendance.

King objected to the measure being placed before the council as an action item during a workshop.

&#8220I would like to say this is indicative of a lack of maturity in the leadership of this city,” King said. &#8220I'm dissatisfied with how this has been brought before the council.”

Rackley said he agreed it should have come to the council earlier, &#8220but this is not a new subject to us.”

The passage of the resolution is meant to inform the County Council of the city's wishes and underline the partnership's resolve.

Tom Ballard, a spokesman for the partnership, said for the group to design and construct the route connecting to 116th the County Council will have to approve the plan.

&#8220We are embarking on a series of meetings with the county to draft an agreement,” Ballard said. &#8220If everything falls into place we will have an agreement when the county selects the route.”

The Falling Water builders are hoping to have a settlement on the route from the county very soon. The development is required to build a second access off the Plateau to McCutcheon Road.

Falling Water is nearing phase 2 construction. The entire subdivision is planned for more than 1,000 homes. Ballard said the developers would rather put money and resources into a route that serves the entire Plateau.

Dennis Box can be reached at dbox@cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/courierherald.