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Bowing to pressure from residents and local officials, UDOT has redesigned its plans for the Highland Highway.
At a meeting held at Cabela's in March, the public was asked to weigh in on plans that showed elevated express lanes sandwiched between frontage-type roads. The design would allow commuters to get to the freeway on express lanes without traffic lights, while local traffic would use the frontage-type roads for shopping and other trips.
Residents and local officials had concerns about how the road would perform in a massive snowstorm of the type that forced some elementary students to stay overnight at their schools this winter and shut down roads across north Utah County. Residents, some of whom submitted a petition against the design, also said the road would be too noisy, not provide enough local access and could not be easily expanded in the future.
Taking those comments in hand, Utah Department of Transportation officials have just finished taking a new road design to local cities, and the response has been much more favorable, said Dan Avila of UDOT.
The new design puts the express lanes on the side of the road, rather than in the middle of the frontage-type lanes. In addition, the design stays much closer to the grade of the land, eschewing elevated sections. The new plan also allows space to expand both the express lanes and frontage-type roads in the future if necessary.
Jamie Davidson, Lehi city administrator, said the city was "actually very pleased" with UDOT's new concept for the road. He noted that the redesign answered many of the city's concerns.
The state Transportation Commission, meeting next week in Highland, is expected to make a decision about whether to fund the entire Highland Highway reconstruction or just part of the work, beginning with the frontage-type roads. Avila said the entire project is estimated to cost $260 million.
Construction is expected to be completed in fall 2010.
UDOT will need some land now belonging to IM Flash Technologies to make the plan possible, and negotiations with that company have been more than positive, Avila said. The company is eager for the road improvements, which will make it easier for its employees to come and go to work.
The express lanes will have a 55-mph speed limit, with no traffic signals between IM Flash and the freeway, Avila said. The plan will be available to the public at www.udot.utah.gov/sr-92 within two weeks. Public hearings about the plan will be held in the fall. |
