Residents weigh in on connector

PROVO — Dozens of local residents got a glimpse at alternatives for a belt-loop highway that will cut through the city's last wide-open space in the next 10 years.

An estimated 100 Provo residents weighed in on the six alternatives for the proposal, dubbed the Provo westside connector, Thursday night at an open house in Amelia Earhart Elementary at 2585 W. 200 South. The alternatives are intended to accommodate projected transpirations and community needs on the southwest side of Provo between Provo City Municipal Airport and I-15.

With six different alternatives marked off by a variety of rainbow colors, residents found plenty to say — both positive and negative.

Mike Scott, a Provo resident who lives near 600 South and 1100 West, said he didn't like the looks of the proposed roadway system that would extend existing roads at 600 South and 920/1150 South clear to 3110 West. He said he prefers the alternative that would create a new road-

way that would start at the University Avenue I-15 Interchange and veer northwest through farmland.

"(It) has the least impact on wetlands and people," he said. "Doesn't that make more sense?"

Provo, in conjunction with the Federal Highway Administration, and Utah Department of Transportation, is spearheading the study to improve transportation infrastructure between the freeway and Provo City Municipal Airport. They started with 39 possible alternatives and eventually whittled their way down to six proposals, said Tom Twedt, division manger for Bio-West — a company contracted to help out with the westside connector study.

Those six feasible roadways proposed to improve connectivity on the westside include:

• An elevated expressway running above Center Street from the I-15 Interchange to 3110 West.

• Improvements and extensions on 600 South and 920/1150 South to 3110 West.

• A new east-west roadway with an underpass at 1500 S. University Ave., to 3110 West.

• A new arterial road that would run from a new alignment at the University Avenue Interchange to 3110 West.

• A new roadway that would run from the University Avenue Interchange and connect to an existing roadway at 1600 West and 600 South.

• An east-west causeway that would cut through Provo Bay, providing connection from I-15 to 3110.