Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City staff to start UDOT process for $6.1 million Immigration Canyon road safety project; council not authorizing property acquisition yet
Summary
Staff said they will initiate a UDOT-managed process for a $6.1 million grant to improve a narrow section of Immigration Canyon Road, including slope stabilization, drainage and possible bike lanes; environmental review and property impacts will be determined before any land acquisition.
City staff told the Immigration Canyon City Council on May 20 that they will begin the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) procurement and environmental review process for a $6.1 million safety improvement grant covering Immigration Canyon Road from 5655 Immigration Canyon Road to Pine Crest Canyon Road.
Tamron, the city’s project lead, said the grant funds are earmarked for slope stabilization, guardrail evaluation and relocation, drainage improvements, culvert replacement and evaluation of bicycle lanes. Tamron told the council, “We don't have any approval from the council to acquire property at this point in time,” and reiterated that the project will use UDOT’s environmental process and is expected to be a categorical exclusion (CATX) unless circumstances change.
Tamron said UDOT has agreed the city can use UDOT’s environmental process and said that if the environmental study identifies a need for property acquisition or a higher level of federal review, staff will return to council before any acquisition or design moves forward. "If it expands beyond that, we'll go larger, but I we wouldn't go to that level without coming back to this council," Tamron said.
Residents at the meeting raised questions about timing and surveying. Resident Robert McFarland asked whether a survey would be done to confirm right‑of‑way lines near his property and when the initial design would be available; staff replied that a survey would occur during design and that engineering design follows the environmental document.
Council members and residents voiced concerns about whether adding bicycle lanes could increase traffic or alter user behavior on the road. Tamron said the grant area was set by the funder; project limits were driven by previous work and the narrowest segment of the corridor. Staff said past safety studies indicated bike lanes would improve safety in parts of the corridor.
Next steps: staff will issue a request for qualifications under UDOT’s process, proceed with the environmental review through UDOT and return to the council with environmental and design findings before any property acquisitions or final design choices.
