There is no money to pay for it as yet, no timeline to build, and it won't improve anything -- just keep it from getting worse -- but that did not stop about 100 people from braving the snow and black-iced roads on Thursday to hear UDOT's plans for the future of Interstate 15.

The good news is that federal approval is expected by next summer, meaning work could go forward as soon as funding is approved by the Legislature.

The reconstruction of I-15 is expected to cost three and a quarter billion dollars if funded today, and will only get more expensive as time goes on, said Geoff Dupaix of UDOT.

UDOT believes they may be able to keep three lanes of traffic open in each direction during the entire construction project, good news for commuters, he said. The project would add two lanes in each direction from Bangerter Highway to Payson, and rebuild or revamp every intersection of the freeway in Utah County.

The goal of building the road is to ensure that in the year 2030, traffic on I-15 is about the same as it is today, maybe slightly heavier, according to Dupaix and UDOT documents.

Gerald Kammerman of Saratoga Springs came to Thursday night's open house because he is tired of using the back roads of Lehi to avoid Lehi Main Street traffic.

"I avoid downtown Lehi as much as possible," he said. "I would like a better connection between Saratoga Springs and the freeway. I am pleased with the work they are doing. I sure would like things to move ahead but I know things take time and money. We can do the most convenient thing, but in 20 years is that really going to meet our needsfi We need to do long-term planning."

Carl Mellor, owner of the historic Lehi Hotel, and the Mellor Hidden Meadows Reception Center, came to encourage UDOT to build a noise-reducing wall along the freeway where traffic noise sometimes interrupts the atmosphere of the reception center gardens, located at 900 N. 100 East in Lehi.

He wasn't encouraged.

"When they double the freeway, it is going to double the noise," he said. "We own about 1,000 feet of property adjacent to the freeway but since we are a commercial business, they don't feel we meet their standards for a sound wall."

Larry and Barbara Guercio's home in American Fork is next to the freeway. Their property is being studied, UDOT officials told them, it is unclear right now whether any, all or part of it will be needed for the freeway rebuild.

The couple said they are in limbo. They want to stay in their home, but are afraid UDOT will move the freeway too close. There is no sound wall in front of their home and the noise is already a problem, they said, but even more concerning are the cars that wreck, ending up in their driveway. The couple said if UDOT takes too much of their yard, they will be forced to move.

There is about 100 feet from UDOT's property to the front door of their home, they said.

"We are just wondering if they are going to take our driveway, and how close the freeway is going to be to our home," she said.

The good news is that UDOT may put up a sound wall to block the noise from their home, they said.

Paul Schramm of Highland said freeway traffic "is a nightmare." He came to Thursday's meeting to find out how UDOT plans to improve it.

He said he encouraged UDOT officials at the meeting to extend Redwood Road to Santaquin and allow traffic to move off I-15 in Utah County. This needs to be done while there is still open space west of Utah Lake "rather than wait for years down the road," he said. "I do know we need to do something, there is no doubt about it. All the new people coming in have put a heavy impact on us."

UDOT officials said the Legislature is likely to spend some time in the January session addressing how to pay for the project, which Dupaix said will be the most expensive road project ever undertaken in Utah. The best case scenario is that work could begin in 2010, he said.

Public comment on the project will be accepted until Jan. 11, and Dupaix encouraged those who were unable to attend Thursday's meeting to visit UDOT's Web site for the project, www.udot.utah.gov/i15utahcounty. Comments may be e-mailed to i15utahcounty@utah.gov.