SPANISH FORK — More high-occupancy vehicle lanes, or an improved Interstate 15 and Main Street interchange?

That's the battle heating up with Spanish Fork and state officials targeting the Utah Department of Transportation's I-15 Core project.

Core seeks to add more lanes on I-15 from American Fork to south of Springville, but whether a major interchange in Spanish Fork is rebuilt as part of that $1.7 billion project hasn't been decided.

The Core project envisions two more HOV lanes from Provo to Spanish Fork, estimated to cost between $150 million and $180 million. But those lanes are not needed as much as rebuilding the Main Street interchange, City Councilman Wayne Andersen said.

The City Council work session Wednesday included the legislative core representing south Utah County and parts of southern Utah and businesses that must daily contend with a street system that Rep. Mike Morley, R-Spanish Fork, says has failed. Mayor Joe Thomas was absent.

Other legislators in attendance were Rep. Becky Lockhart, R-Provo; Rep. Francis Gibson, R-Mapleton; Rep. Patrick Painter, R-Nephi; and Sen. David Hinkins, R-Orangeville.

Three consortium construction companies are competing for the bid, scheduled to be awarded in December. The company selected is given a budget, then told to design and build the I-15 improvements. Whether the Spanish Fork interchange is part of the bid depends on how far the winning bidder can stretch the budget, Morley said.

Discussions about the interchange, a maze of highways and ramps that stretches from Main Street to U.S. 6, began a year ago, he said. Now, business growth has created a bottleneck on Main.

Major businesses in the area include Barber Brothers, an auto dealer; Triple T, a heating and air conditioning company; and Mountain Country Foods, which produces treats for pets.

"I have 450 employees trying to get onto Main every day," Mountain Country Foods owner Doug Ford said.

More businesses could come, but officials fear the lack of access may hurt growth potential. Intermountain Healthcare has purchased property near the interchange for a hospital, Morley said, and Home Depot also owns land there. Other shopping center owners are eyeing the area, city manager Dave Oyler said.

Thus far only one of the three Core bidders has spoken with Spanish Fork officials to learn about the transportation problems, Andersen said.

Once the contract is awarded, "it's too late," Lockhart said.

Surrounding towns, including Woodland Hills, Elk Ridge and Mapleton, also are affected, because those residents access I-15 through Spanish Fork, officials said.

State and local officials and business owners plan a major push to reach the state Transportation Commission and UDOT with the message that rebuilding the interchange is more important to Spanish Fork than more HOV lanes.

e-mail: rodger@desnews.com