Frustrated by traffic tie-ups on state Route 410? Tired of a commute between Enumclaw and Bonney Lake that takes 30 minutes in the morning but an hour in the afternoon?
Well, the Washington State Department of Transportation is ready to take your feedback. The department is encouraging the public to participate in an online survey to identify ways to reduce congestion on SR 410 between 234th Ave. E. in Bonney Lake (eastern city boundary line) and Garrett Street in Enumclaw (near QFC and others).
Those wishing to participate should act fast. The survey went live last week and will be available only until 11:59 p.m. this Sunday, July 22.
“The information we receive from this survey will help us identify potential strategies for reducing congestion along the corridor,” said WSDOT Planning Manager Dennis Engel. “We encourage people to give us their thoughts.”
The survey includes questions about 410’s No. 1 choke-point – the White River Bridge – as well as potential improvements for travelers who ride bicycles or walk. Regarding the busy bridge between Buckley and Enumclaw, the DOT website indicates long-term solutions to 410 traffic could include “replacing or expanding” the bridge.
The survey asks big picture questions like top priorities for travelers. Is it reducing congestion or adding safety features? Is it all about motor vehicles or should the DOT be looking more at bicycle and pedestrian issues? The survey provides opportunities for individual thoughts and suggestions.
Other, more specific questions, seek information like:
• how often do you travel on SR 410 between Bonney Lake and Enumclaw?
• why do you use 410 (business, shopping, medical appointments, etc.)?
• do you schedule 410 trips to avoid times of peak congestion?
• do you use an alternate route to avoid 410 (and which road)?
The survey is part of the SR 410 traffic study that carries a $300,000 price tag. A final report is expected this winter.
Lobbying for the 410 study was Plateau Cities Collaboration, a group that started with city leaders from Enumclaw and Buckley and came to include Bonney Lake and representatives from both King and Pierce counties.
A fact sheet prepared by the PCC notes that 2,200 vehicles travel SR 410 from Enumclaw to Buckley on a typical weekday, between the hours of 4 and 6 p.m. The DOT grades roadways by “level of service” and has provided an “F” to the intersection of 410 and Park Avenue in Buckley; the ratings don’t come any lower.
TWO PROJECTS IMPACTING 410
The Department of Transportation currently has two projects that will impact SR 410 drivers – one already started and another to be tackled soon.
Already under way is a project to repaint the White River Bridge, an effort that is budgeted at $2.8 million. Costs escalate when work is done over salmon-bearing waterways, like the White River. The steel bridge was built in 1949 and last painted in 1988.
Crews will first sand the rust and old paint from the bridge, before applying new paint. During work hours – mostly at night – there will be two narrow lanes to accommodate traffic. Occasionally, one lane will be closed and there will be alternating traffic.
Additionally, work is expected to begin later this summer on a 410 “signal rebuild” project in Buckley.
The DOT will have contractors replacing signal lights at the intersection of the highway at Park Avenue, Main Street and Mundy Loss Road. The use of current technology and equipment should allow for better coordination, helping with traffic flows.
