From Deseret News archives:
Go-ahead sought for work on I-15
At the earliest, work could begin on the road in 2009 and be finished by 2016, according to the Utah Department of Transportation.
But the agency said it needs an answer this session if the state wants work to begin on the road that early.
"We need a go-ahead this session if we're going to begin building in two years," said UDOT director John Njord, during a transportation budget meeting Monday.
UDOT has planned for I-15 to be reconstructed a total of 43 miles from the southern portion of Salt Lake County to Payson. It says it can reconstruct the road in segments, as directed by the Legislature.
If completely rebuilt with the help of some bonding, it would cost the state $6.9 billion, according to UDOT. Without bonding, reconstruction is estimated to cost $7.6 billion, but the road wouldn't be finished until 2027, UDOT said.
Legislators say they are aware of the issue of timing reconstruction of I-15. The problem is, legislators say, they also have a list of other big-ticket road projects that need funding, including the Mountain View Corridor, North Legacy, and the Southern Corridor in St. George.
"We have to do those projects, but we're concerned about the funding," said Rep. Wayne Harper, R-West Jordan, co-chairman of the Legislature's Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee.
This week, members of Harper's committee plan to work on different proposals for funding transportation. Harper said he didn't believe money would be given specifically to I-15 this year, but, rather, legislators would study the issue and perhaps come back next year with more long-term funding solutions.
Things could change, however, given the feelings of House and Senate leadership. The Utah Department of Transportation has already given presentations to leadership about the issue, and House leaders have indicated a desire to help fund roads.
The transportation budget committee is scheduled to meet at least two more times this week to discuss UDOT funding issues. To see committee agendas, log on to www.le.state.ut.us.
E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com
Recent comments
Let's have the great Sierra Club and other organzations that closed...
mad | Feb. 5, 2008 at 9:35 a.m.
Here we go again. I'd like to know why the money used to extend the...
Robert | Feb. 5, 2008 at 9:13 a.m.
The longer they wait the worse off things will be in Utah Valley....
Hurry and Start | Feb. 5, 2008 at 8:31 a.m.
- Pilots blame air traffic controllers 12:55 p.m.
- Senate confronts abortion in debate 12:46 p.m.
- 2 bombs kill 34 in Lahore 12:41 p.m.
- U.N. climate conference opens 12:29 p.m.
- Messy Monday morning commute 12:28 p.m.
- Stocks extend gains 12:06 p.m.
- Top 3 stay same in AP Top 25 12:05 p.m.
- Two arrested in pharmacy robbery 12:03 p.m.
- GM to invest $336M in Volt plant 11:54 a.m.
- Church History Museum D&C tours 11:52 a.m.
- Letters: Liberal because LDS
268 - Y. profs: Beck not all-knowing
243 - Hate not limited to 1 in-state rivalry
190 - TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
186 - Aggies shoot past Cougars
179 - N.Y. Senate rejects gay marriage
134 - Cougars going back to Vegas
127 - George lost in rivalry hatefest
117 - Ed Smart 'appalled' at testimony
98 - Utah/BYU rivalry can be more civil
97
Amazon.com, Target.com, Sears.com, Walmart.com, Kmart.com and...
That does it — I'm having an affair! Thanks to Tiger Woods, David...
First, a big thank you to all who posted questions here for me to ask...
That game was fan-tastic. Eight lead changes??? How can you beat that. Tyson...
"CO2 is NOT the pollutant." They are not saying it is THE pollutant - they...
I have ridden my horses on this land last for the last 10 years. It is a...
Barry was the only reason I got back into baseball after the 1994 strike that...
To "wallofvoodoo | 11:46 a.m. " why doesn't reprocessing take the issue of...
Oh really miskky than how do you explain double digit leads of 20 plus in...
Bennett is right to oppose and delay this bill. It’s a bad bill, and...
"CO2 is not a pollutant." Could you please provide the background and...
Pardon Skeptic and me for tossing a little water on your TRAX celebration....
"FYI - Cal beat Stanford by 10, who beat USC by 20, who beat Oregon State by...


