By Dennis Box-The Courier-Herald

Road construction at the busy intersection of South Prairie Road and state Route 410 has started and is expected to last into May.

The work is part of the improvements made necessary by construction of the Lowe's store at the Bonney Lake Marketplace site. The shopping complex is across from the Albertsons complex.

According to city officials, Lowe's is expected to open in late spring or early summer.

Public Works Director Dan Grigsby said the roadwork will be done “as much as possible at night and the project will be tentatively done May 22.”

Demolition began Feb. 18 and installation of new curbs on South Prairie Road is planned for about mid-March.

There will be a right turn lane added to South Prairie Road into Lowe's. From South Prairie Road onto SR 410 there will be three left turn lanes along with a right turn lane.

South Prairie Road up to the Lowe's entrance will have seven lanes. The road was expanded to five lanes during the summer of 2007.

A left turn out of Lowe's onto South Prairie Road will be allowed, except during the peak traffic hours of 4 to 6:30 p.m.

The widening project on SR 410 includes adding another westbound lane from the South Prairie Road intersection to 192nd Avenue East, about 1,200 feet. Sidewalks will also be added.

The work on SR 410 and South Prairie Road will occur simultaneously, with the end date for both intended for May 22 - depending on weather and other possible delays.

The developer, Bonney Lake Marketplace Developers, is paying for the road improvements.

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