Oct. 17, 2001--
The Utah Department of Transportation has put the pedal to the medal on construction of Legacy Parkway and expects to complete it in three years.
Environmentalists still want to block the roadway. But project leaders claim it's environmentally friendly.
News Specialist Jed Boal reports from Davis County at the south end of the project.
Heavy construction started in July.
This corridor that will run 14 miles from I-215 to Farmington is already taking shape.
UDOT gave us a closer look, and gave some rare birds a helping hand.
Legacy Parkway has churned up controversy since it was first proposed.
Now, UDOT is bulldozing ahead on the $450-million project, with tight environmental restrictions.
John Njord/UDOT Executive Director: THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS THAT WE'VE PUT INTO PLACE, ARE THINGS THAT WE'VE NOT DONE TO THE EXTENT THAT WE'RE DOING IT OUT HERE.
The project includes a 2100-acre nature reserve, a trade-off for the wetlands impacted by the road.
The only known pair of nesting bald eagles in Northern Utah made their home here and produced 14 eaglets over six years.
That is, until this tree and their nest was blown down in June.
The Department of Wildlife Resources and Legacy leaders today raised a man-made nest, an attempt to lure the eagles back.
Bob Walters/Utah Department of Wildlife Resources: BECAUSE WE'RE WATER POOR, WE'VE NEVER HAD A SIGNIFICANT NESTING POPULATION OF BALD EAGLES.
Jed Boal/ Eyewitness News: AS CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES, THE PROJECT STILL FACES A LEGAL CHALLENGE. LAST MONTH, A FEDERAL JUDGE GAVE THE PROJECT A GREEN LIGHT. BUT A COALITION OF ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS IS STILL SEEKING AN INJUNCTION TO STOP THE CONSTRUCTION.
John Njord/UDOT Executive Director: WE'VE BEEN THROUGH COURT. THE JUDGE HAS AFFIRMED OUR DECISION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT. SO, WE'RE CONFIDENT.
The contractor has taken steps to protect the wetlands and has a dozen staff members who help monitor specific environmental concerns.
He argues the project serves public needs and protects the land and sets a new standard for environmentally sensitive construction.
Tuhr Barnes/Fluor Ames Kraemer-Project Director: THERE ARE THOSE WHO WOULD BULLDOZE EVERYTHING. THERE ARE THOSE WHO WOULD SAVE EVERY TREE. THERE'S A MID POINT AND THAT'S WHAT WE ALL NEED TO REACH TO.
The Sierra Club is also confident it will prevail in court and shut down construction.
They see the Parkway as the beginning of massive overdevelopment in this area and the centerpiece of poor long-term transportation planning.
Expect a hearing in federal court in the next few weeks.
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