Senate passes resolution for I-15 project in Utah County

The Senate passed a resolution Wednesday to authorize the state Department of Transportation to begin work on the reconstruction of I-15 in Utah County.

The resolution, SCR6, must still be approved by the House, but it represents a commitment to UDOT that the state will authorize bonding up to $1.8 billion for the project, planned to extend from American Fork to U.S. Highway 6, near Spanish Fork.

The resolution also asks that UDOT return to the legislature next session to discuss financing options for reconstructing a segment of I-15 from 12300 South in Salt Lake County to American Fork.

Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, said the reason legislators are not endorsing reconstruction from 123000 to U.S. 6 is because they did not want to impact the state's bond rating.

"It is prudent and responsible for us to not get too close to the cliff," he said.