City project update: Dokerville Reservoir, Boulder Ridge subdivision, North Parkway progress and utility reroutes

Assistant City Manager Darren told the Toquerville Planning Commission that several large infrastructure and development projects are underway or approaching construction phases, including work at the Boulder Ridge subdivision, the Dokerville Reservoir project (FEMA clearances completed), North Parkway finishing work, and utility reroutes tied to new subdivisions and a travel center.

Darren said the Boulder Ridge subdivision (approved previously) is proceeding with utility installation and building work. The Dokerville Reservoir project has received FEMA clearances (CLOMR-type approvals) and crews have started site work; Darren described the reservoir as a roughly two-year project that recently began, with excavation and use of basalt rock from a nearby ridge for dam base construction and clay to line the reservoir bottom. He described some blasting for rock and “grubbing” (brush and tree removal) that required a burn permit.

On North Parkway, Darren said temporary traffic signals and intermittent lane controls will continue as crews finish grading, address a sand-pocket slope remediation and install a two-inch asphalt overlay and final striping. He said geotechnical engineers are reviewing a ledge that presents a potential fall hazard; mitigation details and final scheduling remain pending a geotechnical fix. The city’s current goal is to have the parkway substantially complete by the end of summer, pending final geotechnical and construction submissions from the contractor.

Darren also described utility work and power-line rerouting in areas near Toquerville Estates, noting that TDS had been slower to complete relocation and that temporary trenches and conduits are in place. A large temporary contractor tent and trailers are on site to support construction. He said some of the materials for reservoir lining will be trucked in and that certain cuts and excavation will continue across the project area.

Commissioners and staff discussed the scale and duration of these projects; Darren noted there are at least two projects in the area he described as each over $40 million in scale (he contrasted these with smaller local projects). He also said the city does not directly fund some aspects of these developments and that state or other agencies (for example UDOT for road tie-ins) have permitting and coordination roles. Darren closed by saying staff will keep the commission updated as contractor submittals and geotechnical conclusions arrive.