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UDOT study says connector is badly needed June 6, 2017, 5:57 pmThe study found that the area between the Alpine Highway and North County Boulevard lacks an east-west connection. The proposed connection between the Alpine Highway and North County Boulevard was analyzed as a two-lane major collector road. The study identified what it called an east-west 3.4 mile-long gap in travel between SR-92 and 300 North. In the study, three possible connector options placed in the northern third, central third and southern third of the east-west access gap area were evaluated. The three connector options were analyzed to consider what effects a new connector would have on traffic in the study area. The location of the connector was placed independent of alignment feasibility, land use impacts or cost. Each connector option was analyzed for both existing and 2040 conditions and compared to "no-build" conditions without a connector. The study found that regardless of which option was chosen, having such an east-west connector would significantly reduce delays at intersections and the amount and distance drivers would have to travel to reach their destinations. If the connector were built today, the central connector would serve 6,200 vehicles a day compared to 4,700 with the northern connector and 5,400 with the southern connector. The study extrapolated those findings out to 2040 when it predicts that the southern connector would see the most traffic at 8.500 vehicles a day and the northern and central connectors' demand being estimated at 7,200 and 7,800 trips per day. The study also compared how existing roads would fare by 2040 if a connector was not built. North County Boulevard and SR-92 are each expected to increase by 60 to 70 percent, while the Alpine Highway is anticipated to have relatively minor growth at 5 to 10 percent. With the addition of the planned connector between 200 East and the Alpine Highway, 700 North had the highest estimated growth at 200 to 300 percent. For 2040, the southern connector is estimated to have the highest demand with an estimated 8,500 vehicles per day. The northern connector removes the most traffic from SR-92, an estimated 5,100 vehicles. The southern connector removes the highest volume from 700 North, an estimated 6,300 vehicles. The central connector removes an estimated 2,200 vehicles from SR-92 and 4,800 vehicles from 700 North. According to Highland City Councilman Rod Mann, based on UDOT's figures, the connector, if built, will save drivers nearly 44,000 hours of travel time per year by 2040. The proposed road would need to cross the Utah State Developmental Center's property, which is state-owned. As such, UDOT needs a positive recommendation from the USDC board and the approval of the legislature to even get plans for the road on the drawing board. Local officials hope that with this data in hand, they can convince USDC board members of the need for the road and of what they consider is minimal impact to the developmental center. The community news source for Eagle Mountain Utah, Saratoga Springs Utah, Lehi Utah, American Fork Utah, Highland Utah, Alpine Utah, and The Cedar Valley, including Cedar Fort Utah and Fairfield Utah. Copyright 2024 The Crossroads Journal LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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