Traffic delays through Eastown in Bonney Lake should now become a thing of the past as the new, four-lane state Route 410 is now officially open for business.

As workers finished the final touches and removed the orange cones on the highway behind the event, a ceremonial ribbon was cut Wednesday and the traffic signal at the reconstructed 233rd intersection was turned on, marking the end of an 18-month project to widen the roadway.

Officials cited safety and mobility as the main reasons for widening the road.

“Two lanes just doesn’t cut it,” Kevin Dayton, Regional Administrator for WSDOT said Wednesday of why the highway was widened. “It was probably antiquated 10 years ago.”

Dayton also said the increased mobility and re-worked intersection should lead to fewer accidents in the corridor.

“This is a huge safety improvement,” he said. “When roads get congested, people take chances.”

Dayton also cited the city of Bonney Lake as a “great partner” in the project.

“Everyone I talk to in the region talks about Bonney Lake and how cooperative and visionary they are,” he said.

Mayor Neil Johnson, released from the hospital last week following a stem cell transplant to battle cancer, was also on the site and said the new road would be a source of pride for the city.

“This project means a lot to the city of Bonney Lake,” Johnson said. “It’s going to allow our Eastown to take off.”

Planning on the road-windening project began more than 10 years ago, but nothing happened until 2003 when voters passed a nickel gas tax for road projects, which paid for final design and right-of-way purchases.

In 2005, voters approved an additional 9.5-cent gas tax to further fund transportation projects, which helped pay for construction.

“These are the fruits of the 2003 and 2005 revenue increases,” Dayton said.

In total, the 1.5-mile project cost $18 million.

Construction began in March 2010, but a wet summer made for a “slow process” last year, said Jeff Rockey of J.R. Hayes and Sons, the lead contractors on the project.

Between groundbreaking and Labor Day 2010, there were 28 non-working days due to weather. Construction was suspended for the winter Dec. 8 and by that time there had been 50 non-working days.

Rockey said in contrast, since work began again this year, they have lost only one day to the weather.

“I believe we have ultimately delivered a project we can take pride in and I trust the state and local community as well,” Rockey said.

A handful of Eastown business and property owners were also on hand to see the highway officially opened to traffic.

Roger Watt, owner of Emerald Links Driving Range welcomed the new stretch of road in front of his business.

“I think it’s great for the area. It’s going to make the road really safer,” he said, citing the traffic light specifically. “I’m delighted that’s going to be turned on today.”

During his remarks, Johnson thanked all those involved in the project and invited everyone to visit Bonney Lake again.

“As mayor, you are all welcome to come back any time,” he said. “I can’t promise no speeding ticket, but…”