New corridor inches ahead step by step

A second north-south freeway along the Wasatch Front is becoming more of a reality with the progression of a study that will determine the impacts and most feasible solutions for the issues at hand.

Deseret Morning News graphic Mountain View Corridor options, Salt Lake County Requires Adobe Acrobat.

The Mountain View Corridor Environmental Impact Statement team has narrowed a list of more than 300 possible transportation concepts for the corridor to eight — four in Salt Lake County and four in Utah County. Residents within the affected areas are being encouraged to comment on these concepts by Aug. 31 via the project Web site at www.udot.utah.gov/mountainview.

"The release of eight possible transportation solutions marks an important milestone in the project and a key time for public feedback," said Teri Newell, Utah Department of Transportation project manager. "These concepts will be studies more over the next year, and the public is invited to comment now to allow time for the project team to address questions and concerns."

The presentation of viable concepts to the public is the next step in the environmental impact statement and is progressing the project toward finalizing transportation plans in western Salt Lake County and northwest Utah County.

The area of study is marked as a 35-mile stretch from I-80 in the north to Utah Lake in the south. The Mountain View Corridor project would potentially affect residents of the cities of Herriman, Lehi, Salt Lake, Saratoga Springs, South Jordan, West Jordan and West Valley City.

"Before we start into this study, we want to make sure there is not something else that we should be considering," Newell said.

The four alternatives for the Mountain View Corridor running through Salt Lake County include: a 5600 West freeway concept that would place a freeway between I-80 and SR-201 (2100 South); placing the same freeway at 5800 West between I-80 and 4700 South; begin the freeway at 7200 West; and include arterials between I-80 and SR-201, connecting I-15 and the Mountain View Corridor.

Deseret Morning News graphic Mountain View Corridor options, Utah County Requires Adobe Acrobat.

Residents of Utah County will also be faced with four alternatives for the stretch of highway, going from the county line and meeting up with I-15. A series of arterials, roadways with multiple lanes and intersecting traffic signals, could be used to filter traffic throughout Utah County along the freeway's "power corridor."