Motorists traveling on busy South Prairie Road are no longer able to turn onto Prairie Ridge Drive. The traffic change became effective Monday, June 11.

Drivers will instead enter Prairie Ridge Drive from 120th Street East. They will still be able to turn onto South Prairie Road from Prairie Ridge Drive.

A map showing the traffic change is available at www.piercecountywa.gov/maintenance.

Prairie Ridge Drive is used to access several facilities, including the popular Prairie Ridge Transfer Station. The road is also used to access a Pierce County road maintenance facility, a stockpile area for Pierce County road materials, and a city of Bonney Lake potable water facility.

During busy times, customers waiting to use the transfer station often backed up and lined the shoulder of South Prairie Road. This revision is expected to prevent the crowded, potentially-dangerous situation.

According to a Pierce County press release, the county examined turning patterns and counted vehicles at several intersections when evaluating options to improve traffic flow and access to the facilities.