March 30, 2001--
The decision is in on whether UDOT can begin construction Monday on a new interchange at 114th South.
Several residents who live near the proposed interchange are opposed to it
and they went to court Friday to try to stop it.
News Specialist Sam Penrod tells us what happened.
As a result of the court action, construction will NOT begin on Monday. Instead, there will be a hearing on the issue May 11th.
Here's the background on this issue.
With the population along the Wasatch Front continuing to grow, the south end of the Salt Lake Valley is booming.
Businesses and homes are popping up in areas that have always been used for agriculture.
In the area near 114th South, recent growth along with future projections have many city leaders wanting new access to and from I-15.
Amanda Covington/Utah Dept. of Transportation: "THIS INTERCHANGE WAS INTRODUCED BY THE FOUR COMMUNITIES THERE. SOUTH JORDAN, DRAPER, RIVERTON, SANDY. AND WE WERE DIRECTED BY THE LEGISLATURE TO TAKE THIS PROJECT AND BUILD IT."
The new interchange has been in the planning stages for several years.
Now it has been granted approval,
UDOT wants to give the contractor the go ahead on the 14- month construction project next week.
Amanda Covington/Utah Dept. of Transportation: "WE FEEL LIKE ALL THE PREPARTORY DOCUMENTS THAT WE DID, THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND STUDIES THAT TOOK PLACE OUT THERE WERE THOUROUGH AND THAT WE DID THE BEST JOB POSSIBLE IN LOOKING AT EVERY ISSUE THAT WAS RAISED."
The residents who live in this neighborhood say the interchange is not needed, because 106th and 123rd South are so close.
And they insist numerous requests by citizens for a more intense environmental study were ignored.
Nicole Davis/Opponent: "A GROUP OF US IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD GOT TOGETHER AND SAID WE THINK IT WAS PERHAPS UNLAWFUL AND CERTAINLY INAPPROPRIATE TO IGNORE ALL THIS FEEDBACK TO NOT DO THIS EIS, THIS LARGER ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY."
Opponents say the interchange will bring too much traffic and negatively impact the surrounding area which until now, has been relatively rural.
