PROVO — Traveling from Highland to I-15 will get easier when drivers don't have to stop at every light.

The Utah Department of Transportation recently held open houses for the environmental assessment of the widening of state Route 92, which runs from I-15 to the mouth of American Fork Canyon.

Most widening projects are about the same; more lanes, a possible raised or landscaped median, but UDOT engineers are creating a road that isn't found anywhere in Utah — S.R. 92 will have a raised or lowered express lane.

This express lane won't be what most expect: it isn't like the carpool lanes on I-15. People who want to use it won't have to pay a toll or have two or more people in their car, said Dan Avila, UDOT project manager.

It's a lane without stop lights that will match the topography of the land and run from the Lehi-Highland city line to I-15 without any interruptions.

Widening will occur for the road — two lanes westbound and two lanes eastbound — but the express lane will be

separate from these lanes. At times it will be on the same level as the other lanes, but it will avoid stoplights by either overpassing or underpassing the intersections.

This type of design, which hasn't yet been used in Utah, is used throughout Texas to help commuters. The express lanes will also be equipped with exit and entrance lanes before stoplights so motorists can reach the arterial lanes.

Avila acknowledges that this type of road will cost more because engineers will have to deal with structures, but after meetings with the impacted cities and residents, UDOT decided it would be the best solution to meet current problems and to satisfy residents.

"We wanted to build a road that is an asset to the community it serves," Avila said. "This solution came to bear."

Residents' wishes dictated that the express lane end at Highland. Residents and city officials wanted the highway through the bedroom town to reflect a smaller community and not a major city, Avila said. Lehi decided that the express lane would be the golden ticket with thousands of people commuting from the city, as well as Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs, to IM Flash Technologies, which lies along S.R. 92.

"We did make a great effort to get with the political leaders in the affected communities," said Scott Thompson, UDOT region 3 spokesman, which included Lehi, Highland, Cedar Hills and Alpine.

So far, UDOT has $90 million for the project, which will be constructed in phases. The final design and preferred alternative UDOT will give to the state for approval haven't yet been announced.

"We are hoping to have procurement documents this fall, then we have to woo contractors and agree on funds," Avila said.

He said that work could begin this December, including grading and moving dirt, some of the most important groundwork for lasting roads. Public hearings will be held during the summer but no date has yet been set. Those who would like to comment on the environmental assessment can log on to www.udot.gov.

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E-mail: csmith@desnews.com