LEHI — More than 500 Lehi-area residents gathered Wednesday to protest the proposed freeway connection at 2100 North in Lehi, a route given formal approval by the Utah Department of Transportation earlier in the day.

The rally, which was organized by a group called Citizens Organized for Smarter Transportation, supported the Lehi City Master Transportation Plan, which moves the connection for the Mountain View Corridor to the Point of the Mountain.

"The Lehi city plan carries more traffic, affects fewer homes, doesn't take away from the commercial growth of the city, doesn't lower property value and doesn't destroy agricultural areas," said city engineer Lorin Powell. "It's just a better plan."

As Mayor Howard Johnson and other members of the City Council spoke to the crowd, residents signed petitions and filled out comment cards to be sent to state representatives.

"There's one animal they have refused to accommodate in this study, and that's you guys," Johnson said. "To put a freeway in the middle of a town is not acceptable."

Residents seemed particularly concerned that the proposed connection at 2100 North would divide their city. Residents also worried that the design of the freeway would unnecessarily bring traffic from Salt Lake County into the Lehi area.

"Lehi's already been divided," said resident Laurel Miller. "We know what it's like to be divided. It's hard for a city to have a sense of community when it is compartmentalized by a freeway."

COST has hired a traffic consultant to analyze the situation to give their campaign extra "oomp," said Dave Klock, who helped organize the group.

"We needed someone who speaks their language, so we don't become categorized as a bunch of whining citizens," he said.

COST has submitted the alternate plan to UDOT for consideration, but it has not yet been looked at, Klock said.