Legacy Highway: Full Speed Ahead?

Jan. 10, 2001-- It's full speed ahead for the Legacy Parkway. But opponents will still try to throw up a roadblock.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has issued the permit that allows UDOT to begin building across Davis County wetlands.

More Info Details From AP Legacy Parkway Web Site Stop Legacy Highway Web Site Virtual Tour of Proposed Highway Artist's Renderings EPA Letter To Army Corps Jan. 5, 2001 Army Corps of Engineers Recent Past Stories Gov Says EPA Won't Stop Highway Jan. 5, 2001 Weber Cities Plan For Legacy Highway Jan. 4, 2001 Little Enthusiasm For Northern Part of Highway Jan. 2, 2001 Army Corps Will Okay Highway Permit Dec. 21, 2000 New Report Questions Need For Highway Apr. 24, 2000 Will Highway Solve or Create Traffic Trouble? Apr. 25, 2000

UDOT is already moving ahead with design and engineering. When they got this permit, they were ready to go.

Lynette Phillips/UDOT Director of Public Relations: WE'RE HEAVY INTO THE DESIGN PHASE RIGHT NOW. WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD TO HAVE THIS READY TO GO WHEN THE WEATHER BREAKS.

Actual bulldozing will begin here at the northern end of I-215 this spring.

Legacy Parkway will run through a corridor between the Great Salt Lake and I-15, from I-215 to Lagoon. It's 14 miles with two internal exits.

Legacy has many supporters in Davis County, people who want another highway option for the growing traffic demand.

It has many opponents too, groups which want the state to focus on mass transit rather than highways.

Representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and UDOT talked about the route Wednesday.

They say they've worked closely with the Environmental Protection Agency and addressed all of its concerns, from wetlands preservation to development of commuter rail in the same corridor.

Lt. Col. Bob O'Brien/U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: WE'VE HAD THE GREAT INPUT FROM THE FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES, AS WELL AS INTEREST GROUPS AND CITIZENS, SO WE CAN GET ON WITH THE PROCESS.

UDOT will use a design-build process as they did with I-15. The price tag-- one third of a billion dollars.

UDOT expects legal challenges, but believes it has already passed tougher challenges in the permit process.

The Sierra Club and Utahns for Better Transportation plan to sue to block the project. They could file those papers as early as Thursday morning.

An exclusive KSL-TV-Deseret News poll shows most Utah taxpayers are not in favor of funding Legacy highway.

Funding Legacy Highway
Use General Fund Money?

No

51%

Yes

36%

Don't Know

13%

Margin of Error

+/- 5%