Don't look now, but more freeway construction could be coming soon to another major Utah road.
This time, it's I-215's turn.
And state transportation planners have been seeking public comment to determine what's the best way to upgrade the road.
News Specialist John Daley has details.
The question is whether to keep I-215 at four lanes or to return to three lanes.
The additional lanes were added when I-15 construction started and folks we talked with think UDOT should keep the road at four lanes.
Remember the I-15 Project?
Who can forget?
Now likely to be coming soon--the I-215 Project, though it would be a much less expensive, much less inconvenient, and would be phased in over several years.
UDOT has been holding a series of public hearings, asking residents what should be done to improve the road on the west side from I-15 to I-80.
Currently, the widths of the lanes vary widely. But if the 65 million dollar project moves forward, the road and its ramps would be upgraded.
The road was re-stripped in 1997 to accomodate spillover traffic as the I-15 project got underway.
The additional lane of traffic each way lead to some motorist confusion, even some serious accidents.
Now, UDOT would prefer to keep the road at four lanes.
Nile Easton/UDOT Spokesman: "HERE IN UTAH, WE LIKE OUR LANES AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE, SO WE DO LIKE TO DO IT 12 LANES. THAT'S WHY WE CALL IT A TEMPORARY FIX. AND THAT'S WHY WE LIKE TO GET THE CHANCE TO GO IN AND CORRECT THAT."
A recent poll--and folks we spoke with randomly--seem to support a four lane highway.
Nile Easton/UDOT Spokesman: "84 PERCENT WANT THE EXTRA LANE THERE. I THINK YOU GET USED TO IT. IT'S HARD TO TAKE IT AWAY. AND LIKE I SAID, THE GROWTH IS OUT HERE IN THE WEST, IT IS GROWING. IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S GOING TO GET LESS AND LESS TRAFFIC. IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BUILD."
Robert Wines/West Valley City: "I THINK FOUR IS FINE. MORE PEOPLE OUT THERE. BETTER THAN THREE. I THINK WE HAVE MORE ACCIDENTS WITH THREE THAN FOUR ANYWAY. MORE ROOM ON THE FREEWAY."
Jeff Fisher/Salt Lake City Resident: "TRAFFIC HAS BEEN BAD AND IT SEEMS LIKE FOUR LANES IS BETTER THAN THREE. THEY SHOULD HAVE MADE I-15 FOUR LANES TO PROVO. IT'S BAD DOWN THERE, TOO. I DON'T SEE GOING BACK TO THREE WOULD HELP ANYTHING."
Shauna Christensen/Salt Lake City Resident: "I USE I-215 ALL THE TIME. AND TRAFFIC-WISE IT'S BEEN MUCH BETTER SINCE THEY MADE IT FOUR."
UDOT is holding a public hearing, an open house, about this road work Tuesday night,
where people can state their views on the project.
The hearing goes from 4:30 - 8:30 pm.
You can also comment online. For that, click the link in the box above.
April 9, 2002
