Truck Traffic Stirs Controversy

There may be a solution to the newest controversy over Legacy Highway. The problem this time is big, loud trucks rumbling through a once quiet neighborhood.

Farmington resident Dorothy Arnold describes it this way, "We've got a historic home. I'd wager we've got a three point five earthquake going on 24 hours a day over there."

The solution may lie in closing parts of Farmington Drive and 400 West to non-commercial traffic.

Earlier this month, with a victory in court, the Legacy Highway got the green light to begin construction.

Since then, nearby residents say construction trucks hauling fill material are causing big problems in their neighborhood.

The concerns include safety, noise and potential damage to historic homes.

Residents say officials from UDOT are listening--they're just not doing enough about it.

To haul fill to the Legacy Highway construction site, heavy trucks--at a bustling pace--come and go, day and night, through one historic Davis County neighborhood.

The situation has gotten so bad that residents on State Street have taken to plastering trees with anti-truck signs.

Dorothy Arnold/Farmington Resident: "THE TWENTY FOUR HOURS A DAY IS REALLY INTOLERABLE."

Officials with the Legacy project say actually the trucks are only running 20 hours a day.

Regardless, residents say the top concern is the safety of children.

Two schools are nearby and though parents say they had been promised, there're no crosswalks or crossing guards on busy State Street.

Maureen Clark/Farmington Resident: "WE'RE JUST TRYING TO TEACH THE KIDS TO BE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS AS WE ALWAYS HAVE ON STATE STREET AND THIS IS MAGNIFIED IT IMMENSELY."

Dorothy Arnold/Farmington Resident: "YEAH THEY'VE GOT A ROAD TO BE BUILT, BUT WE'VE GOT HOMES WHERE WE HAVE TO LIVE."

Noise is another problem. With trucks hauling in the middle of the night, sleep is getting hard to come by.

Reporter: "WERE YOU TOLD IT WAS GOING TO BE LIKE THIS?" Dorthy Arnold/Farmington Resident:" NO."

What's more, state and federal law require UDOT to look at impact to historic structures. Even UDOT officials concede that was never fully explored before the project began.

Neighbors worry their turn-of-the-century homes will be damaged.

But spokesmen for UDOT and the contractor say they changed the route to steer trucks clear of schools and much of the neighborhood. They claim many trucks in question are from other construction projects.

Farmington's mayor called a meeting Wednesday night to discuss the situation. Residents, city leaders, and UDOT officials came up with a proposed solution to the problem:

• Close Lagoon Drive to non-commercial traffic 24 hours a day

• No right turn onto 400 West from State Street

• Provide a crossing guard for students