From Deseret News archives:
Provo road opens after years of delays
Dignitaries and mascots from Brigham Young University and Provo and Timpview high schools celebrated the ribbon-cutting Wednesday morning.
The road begins at University Avenue on the valley floor as 4800 North, then winds uphill to the Edgemont neighborhood where it connects to 4525 North, which farther east is Foothill Drive, the road that leads to residences on the Provo bench.
Provo traffic engineers project the road will serve 6,000 vehicles per day immediately and more than 14,000 vehicles per day by 2020.
"This is an important day for Provo," Mayor Lewis Billings said. "This segment of Foothill Drive and 4800 North will serve motorists well by enhancing traffic flows, making traffic more efficient and providing important access to commercial areas for residents in the northeast part of Provo."
Construction began in 2002 but bogged down in controversy when a group of landowners refused to sell a final plot to the city.
Utah County agreed to take the land for Provo, which agreed to shoulder all the costs, but construction waited again until the Supreme Court OK'd the deal.
The city deposited $600,000 with the 4th District Court last fall as a down payment for the landowners while the court case over the value of the land continues.
The land had been owned by Newell Johnson, who died in March 2006 at age 99, and a partnership called Spring Canyon Limited.
The connector road had been a part of city and county master plans since the early 1970s, according to Provo officials. It includes a pedestrian pathway and bike lanes.
E-mail: twalch@desnews.com
Comments
- Surprising wisdom from children 5:13 p.m.
- Favre to Rice helps Vikings win 4:19 p.m.
- Photos: A Royal welcome 3:58 p.m.
- Bengals beat Steelers 3:06 p.m.
- Johnson, Titans beats Bills 41-17 3:05 p.m.
- Bush helps Saints stay unbeaten 3:04 p.m.
- Redskins end skid with 27-17 win 2:58 p.m.
- Keys may help identify body 2:57 p.m.
- Scobee's FG lifts Jags over Jets 2:56 p.m.
- Panthers harass Ryan, beat Falcons 2:50 p.m.
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
361 - BYU happy to escape with victory
224 - TCU creams U.
216 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
201 - Will state consider gay rights law?
148 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
133 - Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
130 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - RSL heads to MLS title game
117 - Celtics crush Jazz
104
Sears is holding a special VIP night Sunday, Nov. 15, in stores and online.
How do you handle kids and contests? Our oldest daughter, 7, is of the...
Way to go! Knock off the defending champions already twice!
I am a frog fan for forty years but the Utes showed class when a TCU player...
I wonder how many Mormons would leave the Church if it were announced...
Hindsight is always 20/20. Hassan had been in the military for many years,...
The Utah BYU game is a toss up. Neither of these teams realy look that good....
"You are an idiot!!!" Wow, impressive point. Good sound use of logic. Way...
Yes we just barely beat New Mexico by 5, and yet we are ranked higher than...
Re: re:KC I think you are confused, ESPN has absolutely no ownership in...
Well TCU should thank Utah. Because of Utah busting the BCS twice, and...
Why do some members like to cry the woe is me story to everyone? Geez! Life...


You can be the first to comment on this story.