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Lehi City Council members were left speechless on Tuesday as UDOT dealt a death blow to the city's proposal to keep a second freeway from bisecting the community.
The city's preferred route, which would have connected the Mountain View Corridor freeway to Interstate 15 at the Point of the Mountain instead of cutting through the city as proposed by UDOT, is impossible because it is too expensive and potentially unsafe, Teri Newell of UDOT told Council members.
"What we decided is that this option was not reasonable," said Newell. "It has been removed from further consideration."
The Federal Highway Administration, which ultimately must approve whatever route is chosen for the Mountain View freeway, had concerns with Lehi's proposal, forcing UDOT to redesign the proposed road to become a 12-lane snare of ramps and lanes where it met Interstate 15, Newell said.
That would have jumped the price to build the road to $1.26 billion dollars, compared to $540 million to build the route UDOT prefers through Lehi.
"Due to its cost, it is not a reasonable alternative," Newell said.
After Newell's presentation, there was a profound silence as Lehi Council members stared at their laps.
"You've got us speechless," Mayor Howard Johnson eventually said. "I have a lot I might say." His voice then trailed off.
The mayor did say, as he has many times over the past few months, that construction of the road would disrupt groundwater, potentially causing some residents to lose water in their wells.
No member of the Council mentioned UDOT's decision during the regular Council meeting on Tuesday night.
Councilman Johnny Barnes said during the meeting with UDOT that he would like to see UDOT show as much concern about the road's impact on Lehi as they are showing over the expansion of the Highland Highway through Lehi and Highland.
"I think that is hopeful," said Newell, noting UDOT would like to work with Lehi to find ways to make the freeway more acceptable to the city.
Saratoga Springs Mayor Tim Parker, who has spoken out against Lehi's proposed alternative, told the Daily Herald on Tuesday that he was pleased with UDOT's announcement and hoped Lehi and surrounding cities could begin working together to plan the new freeway.
In an interview before the meeting with UDOT, Johnson said he found out about UDOT's decision on Friday.
"Obviously I'm very disappointed," he said. "To us, it is a poor decision."
It is unclear whether or how the city will respond to UDOT's dismissal of the city's proposal, but Johnson said he did not consider the issue dead because he had an obligation to work to protect the city's residents who might be negatively impacted by the freeway.
"It's is not dead," he said of Lehi's proposal. "It is not dead."
Though UDOT says it would cost $700 million more to build, the proposal should still be considered because it would save commuters money in the long run and have a far smaller impact on Lehi, Johnson said.
UDOT will hold a meeting from 5 to 7 p.m. on March 19 at Willowcreek Middle School, 2275 W. 300 North in Lehi, to allow the public to see documentation for how UDOT reached its decision, Newell said. For more information about the Mountain View Corridor, visit www.udot.utah.gov/mountainview. |
