There's at least one point of agreement between Lehi and Saratoga Springs on the Mountain View Corridor: The road must come to Utah County.

The proposed highway will provide a connection between Interstate 80 in Salt Lake County and Interstate 15 in Utah County. Running along the west side of Salt Lake Valley, it will provide an alternate route to get to Interstate 15, alleviating congestion both in Salt Lake County and northern Utah County.

The problem is where to connect.

Lehi officials want the link-up at 4800 North, near the Utah State Veterans Cemetery. It's an option that was not included in the Utah Department of Transportation's proposals. Lehi officials do not want their city further divided by highways; I-15 already splits the city in two.

The Saratoga Springs City Council approved a resolution supporting one of UDOT's options, putting the road through Lehi at 2100 North. That alignment, Mayor Timothy Parker said, would help Saratoga Springs, Eagle Mountain, Cedar Valley and Lehi cope with traffic as the area grows.

UDOT is also looking at ways to bring the highway through 1900 South in Lehi and possibly connect with the Pleasant Grove interchange. The down side with those proposals is having to plow through wetlands.

Lehi's concerns about a highway dividing the community may be a bit arcane. If the city were still the bucolic place that once served as a backdrop for the movie "Footloose," then carving it up with highways would be a concern. But Lehi is now a full-fledged suburb well on its way to urban status. It ought to be able to handle another highway passing through.

The 4800 North option may suit Lehi's current needs, but it does not provide Saratoga Springs and Cedar Valley residents with easy access to either the Mountain View Corridor or I-15. That would mean more traffic congestion and possibly complications in economic development. Nobody wants to set up shop in an area with bad traffic.

The cities have taken an important step to solve the problem by meeting recently with state legislators and transportation officials. Mountainland Association of Governments, the regional planning agency, is also entering the debate and is reviewing all the options.

By discussing the matter, both sides can come to an understanding of each other's position and find something that works for everyone. Maybe there's an alternative that hasn't yet been conceived.

In any event, civic pride should not be allowed to derail a vital transportation project for the area. This is a big-picture project that will affect much more than just one city.