From Deseret News archives:
Groups say road is a health risk
The outing was sponsored by groups such as the Sierra Club, Utah Moms for Clean Air and Physicians for a Healthy Environment, who believe living near a busy road can increase the likelihood of leukemia, asthma and other illnesses in children. Published and peer-reviewed medical studies support their concerns.
"We think there are going to be impacts," Dr. Brian Moench of the physicians group said as he walked door-to-door with Cherise Udall of the mothers group. "There are a whole range of health consequences."
In West Valley, Mountain View Corridor is proposed to run along 5800 West and travel near four schools, including Hunter High School and Whittier Elementary. On Saturday, dozens of families were watching their children play in baseball games at four ball diamonds just behind Whittier.
Building the Mountain View, a $2 billion, eight-lane highway running from northwest Salt Lake City into Utah County, would require demolition of two of those ball fields. The road would be just east of the ball diamonds.
Heather Barrios, who lives just west of Whittier, said Saturday she had no idea the Mountain View might be built next to her home. She and her sister were watching their three children and a nephew play inside with a new puppy when Udall and Moench approached their door.
"'These kids will be typical of those that will be most impacted," Moench told her.
Barrios, who just bought her home, agreed to send a letter to Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., asking him to make a transit line along 5600 West a priority in the area, instead of the Mountain View. The transit line is included on long-range transportation plans as something to build in maybe 20 years.
The Utah Department of Transportation is studying the transit line as part of its study of the Mountain View, but had no role in deciding when it should be built, department spokesman Nile Easton said. The Wasatch Front Regional Council, which is made up of local mayors, decided the priority of the transit line and believes it will not have enough ridership to be viable for a long time.
As for issues with air quality, both Easton and Mountain View project manager Teri Newell said UDOT is looking at air quality as part of its study of the Mountain View, and was interested in knowing resident concerns. "As with all impacts, that is something we address," Newell said.
But Easton added that ultimately researchers and the state Department of Environmental Quality are responsible for alerting residents to air quality issues and possible health concerns. "We'll include those things in our study," he said, "but our biggest focus is on delivering the transportation need."
E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com
