He said elevators, escalators and staircases throughout the project, including where it opens onto Main Street, would give shoppers plenty of opportunity to leave the second level and venture onto nearby blocks.

But Councilwoman Nancy Saxton worries escalators and the most inviting staircases will be on the project's interior, and the Main Street elevators won't be widely used.

Even as they questioned the skybridge plans, council members praised the project's scope, and Councilman Dave Buhler said he's ready to support a skybridge.

"This is kind of a no-brainer, something we ought to do, but we ought to do it right," he said.

If the council votes in favor of the proposal, the bridge won't be a done deal. Approval would amend two downtown planning documents that currently discourage skybridges to allow their consideration if they meet certain criteria, such as protecting views and pedestrian activity.

City Creek's developers would then have to design a skybridge that would meet the amendments' requirements. The city would have final approval.

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E-mail: dsmeath@desnews.com