By Dennis Box

The Courier-Herald

The intersection of South Prairie Road East and state Route 410 has become a symbol of Bonney Lake's future - good and bad.

At that crossroad, the old and new clash. The growth of the area, loved by some, hated by others, shows itself in the form of traffic, traffic and more traffic.

A proposed ordinance went before the Bonney Lake City Council Jan. 11 which would allow Pierce County to condemn property if negotiation for purchasing land failed along South Prairie Road.

The city, in conjunction with Pierce County, hopes to widen the road and add a fifth lane.

Homeowners on 200th Avenue East are concerned the project would force them to backtrack getting to SR 410, not allowing a left turn from 200th onto South Prairie Road.

Commercial developers would like to see a third light put in at 100th Street East, but Public Works Director Dan Grigsby said the proposal would cause more problems.

"It would cause way too much backup," Grigsby said. "We would have to redesign the whole project. I'm trying to look down the road so we don't cause more congestion."

The condemnation ordinance and the details of the project have been tabled to the council workshop for further discussion.

But Grigsby cautioned further delays will only create mounting problems.

Bonney Lake High School is set to open in September. The first 115 homes in the Falling Water subdivision will be completed this summer, with the second phase of 100 to 150 homes to begin in October.

Cascadia will break ground later this year with the first stage of its 6,700 home development beginning.

"For years I have said this intersection was going to be a mess if we didn't do something and now it is a mess," Mayor Bob Young said. "There's a lot we can do, but we have to start moving on it."

Improving the intersection will almost certainly help some and hurt others.

"Anybody who can figure out a solution on this one let me know," Deputy Mayor Dan Swatman said. "No matter what you do we need access. It's all about planning and access issues."

Grigsby said the project could be started this year once officials agree on a course of action.

Other road improvements in the south Plateau region, which includes Rhodes Lake Road, are at least four to five years away from starting.

Dennis Box can be reached at dbox@courierherald.com.