Crews begin construction to widen road to two lanes, expand S.R. 73 intersection

Between now and fall 2009, commuters will have to endure lower speed limits and rush hour backups while construction crews expand State Road 68.

The Utah Department of Transportation is widening the road from Bangerter Highway to 400 South in Saratoga Springs. When finished, the road will have two lanes in each direction, a center-running turn lane and widened shoulders, according to the UDOT Web site.

In the Bluffdale area, five properties with homes and buildings were recently purchased and are being demolished this week to make room for widening of the road, and a new traffic signal at Camp Williams will be activated today.

"It's been a long time coming," said Mayor Tim Parker of Saratoga Springs. "I think they are doing great. It is happening faster than I thought it would."

Eagle Mountain City Mayor Heather Jackson agreed that the construction seemed to be coming along quickly.

The S.R. 68 expansion south of the new high school in Saratoga Springs, to 400 South, will be beneficial for future east/west roads planned to run between the neighboring cities.

"It is coming down further into Saratoga Springs than we initially thought, and that is tremendous for us," Jackson said.

Thanks to the new design-build system, construction of the less troublesome areas is underway while design of the trickier spots, such as the crossroads at State Road 73 and S.R. 68 in Saratoga Springs, are still in the design stages. UDOT spokesman Adan Carrillo said the new approach of having the design team and contractors working at the same time will make for fewer delays in the project, though UDOT can't control asphalt shortages or weather that may delay the project.

The supply of asphalt has been threatened since one of the major suppliers of asphalt declared bankruptcy recently. Carrillo said contractors on the project are doing their best to obtain the needed resources and keep on schedule.

"Generally we don't pave after Sept. 15," Carrillo said. He added that excavation and other parts of the project not affected by weather would continue through the winter and the paving will likely resume in mid-April.

Aspects of the project, such as the expansion of the intersection of S.R. 73 and S.R. 68, will continue through the winter.

At this time, UDOT representatives and design team members are meeting with Saratoga Springs city officials and businesses to make sure that the intersection meets the needs of the community.

"We are working to preserve the aesthetics of the intersection," Parker said, adding that from the city's point of view, the intersection or "crossroads" is an important point when it comes to people's perceptions of the city.