As the deadline for public comment approaches, Lehi has ramped up its rhetoric against the Mountain View freeway, sending a letter to residents telling them "your silence says you do not care" and "you must help prevent this."

"You have until January 24 to tell UDOT you do not want a major freeway cutting Lehi in half," wrote Lehi officials in the January city newsletter, sent to all residents. "If they build their proposed 2100 North connector through Lehi, there are too many negative consequences."

In the newsletter, city officials say the freeway and connecting roads will decrease home values, bring health risks that "threaten our families," and add noise walls "ruining views." In addition, "socioeconomic impacts will be severe, the cumulative impacts will be extreme, interchange congestion will be stifling, air quality will diminish, noise will dramatically increase. Do we want this in Lehi? No!"

Lehi Mayor Howard Johnson denied such language could be fear-mongering.

"It might scare people and in a sense we would probably like that, but it is not fear-mongering because they are true statements," he said.

Lehi is alone in opposing the proposed freeway route. Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs representatives both said on Wednesday that they were unaware UDOT had extended the public comment period, which originally ended in December, and had made no last-minute effort to get comments of support from their residents.

American Fork Mayor Heber Thompson said residents who come to City Hall can pick up information about the proposed route but he has sent no letters requesting last-minute support.

Lehi Mayor Howard Johnson said Lehi has set no goal but he is hoping for hundreds or even thousands of protest letters from Lehi residents to UDOT as a result of the city's pleas in the newsletter.

"I think we have their [UDOT's] ear, but I don't know how many letters it would take to have a political effect," he said.

The city makes no apology for its rhetoric against the freeway.

"We have made some strong statements in love and kindness because we think Lehi's plan is the way to go," Johnson said.

Lehi has proposed the freeway instead be routed along 4800 North, linking to Interstate 15 at Point of the Mountain.

"UDOT is building the Mountain View Corridor. When it enters Utah County, they are recommending a connector freeway from the Mountain View Corridor to I-15 at 2100 North in Lehi. You must help prevent this!" states the city's January newsletter.

Lehi even suggests specific verbiage for its residents to use in speaking against the proposed freeway to UDOT:

"What you can say to UDOT -- say what you want, but be specific. For example, you may say: 'I am opposed to the 2100 North connector proposal through Lehi because it negatively impacts neighborhoods, destroys wildlife habitat, and damages the fragile ecosystem along the Jordan River.' Talk about what's important to you."

For its part, just before the Jan. 24 deadline, the city will send a technical rebuttal to UDOT's preferred 2100 North route to UDOT, compiled by lawyers, city staff and outside consultants, Johnson said.

"It will be a detailed picking-apart of their document and where we think they erred and were incomplete," Johnson said.

In a copy of a draft protest letter from Johnson to UDOT obtained by the Daily Herald, Johnson says freeway construction will disrupt the flow of underground water, cutting off some homeowners who rely on wells for drinking water.

Rather than working with the city "Lehi was just told what was going to be done," according to Johnson. "The real solution [to population growth in Cedar Valley] is that the Mountain View Corridor extend through Cedar Valley to I-15 southwest of Nephi and an expressway across Utah Lake. ... The pollution and noise of 100,000-plus vehicles per day will have a major impact on those people in northwest Lehi, an impact that is not necessary and could be avoided with the freeway on 4800 North."

To view UDOT's Mountain View Corridor proposal, visit www.udot.utah.gov/mountainview/. To comment, call (800) 596-2556 or submit comments at Web site above.