Orem's 1600 North to see big changes

OREM — While growing pains are inevitable in a city the size of Orem, the city is working to ensure the trauma from an upcoming road project will be kept to a minimum.

City officials hope that dividing the proposed massive renovation along 1600 North and at the intersection with State Street into sections and using full road closures and traffic diversions will reduce the project's pain, said Morris Flygare, Orem city construction engineer.

Crews will widen the streets, add another left-hand turn lane in all directions at the intersection and remove the existing asphalt to lay a new sub-base for the street.

Although residents may not enjoy having to take an alternate route to work or home, the total road closure is far more helpful in the long run, Flygare said.

The closures allow crews to complete their work in six to eight weeks instead of the 14 weeks required when partial road closures are used, hopefully eliminating some of the usual frustrations for residents.

The $5 million-dollar project, which will be put out to bid at the first of February, is scheduled to be completed by October, Flygare said.

The street will be widened from 350 West to about 600 West and the intersections at 400 West and the main intersection at State Street.

The city will also be adding another water line and storm drain while they're in the construction phase.

An open house Tuesday night will give residents and business owners a chance to look over the plans and time lines and express any comments or concerns.

Although Orem has been working on other road renovations, this is the city's big project of the moment.

"They've (engineers) been working on this project for about two to three years," Flygare said. "We're just finally getting it to the point where we've got the funding."

Money for the project will come from of a road bond passed by voters in 2004.

The bond issue — $14.5 million — can be used for both major road construction and reconstruction, as well as for sidewalks, especially close to schools, said Jeff Pedersen, Orem City finance director.

Some $9 million from the issue has already been allocated to projects and the rest will be used as needs arise, Pedersen said.

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