Relief is on the way for Lehi congestion

According to Eccles, future roads that will travel from the east to the west across the county will have have a different elevation, to go over or under existing train tracks. A differentiation would increase traffic flow and improve the safety of the road, Eccles said.

Although 1000 South and 2100 North are both potential Mountain View Corridor connectors, the roads have been separated from the much larger project. According to Nazare, the roads will eventually have to be built, no matter what, so the projects can move forward.

MAG estimates put the cost of road construction for 1000 South at about $110 million. Because of the recent sales tax increase, Eccles estimated MAG now has enough money to fund the road construction.

After a decision is made between which of the two projects to begin immediately, UDOT will then conduct an environmental impact study for about 18 months. After the study is completed, the road could potentially be finished in about three years, or by 2011.

In the meantime, locals are finding their own ways through Lehi's back streets.

"Who likes to sit in traffic if you don't have to?" said Ellen Parker, wife of Saratoga Springs mayor Timothy Parker. Ellen Parker was stuck behind the train on her way to pick up her daughter only momentarily before she veered off and bypassed the tracks by another route.

Parker says the delay still made her about an hour late, but she made it through. She knew what roads to take because she uses them regularly in heavy rush-hour traffic, Parker said.

"I may be just more impatient than some, but I hate idling in traffic," Parker said. "The amount of time it takes to go around the back way isn't always necessarily shorter, but I would rather be moving than sitting. That's just me."

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