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DOT outlines phased West Valley Highway plan and seeks supplemental funding
Summary
Department of Transportation officials briefed legislators on a multi‑phase West Valley Highway project, detailing schedules and cost estimates for seven phases and noting a governor request for a $20 million supplemental appropriation to advance paving and grading work.
Jean Finley of the Utah Department of Transportation told legislators the West Valley Highway is intended to relieve congestion in the Salt Lake Valley and support economic development. "West Valley Highway will serve about 18% of the state's population," Finley said, citing a 1986 environmental impact statement that projected heavy use along the corridor.
The project is being advanced in multiple phases. Finley said Phase 1, from 20th South to 30th South, is under design and targeted to be advertised in April and completed in October 1991 at a cost of about $6.25 million. Phase 2 (30th to 40th) is expected to be advertised in June and completed in October 1991 at roughly the same cost. Phase 3 (30th to 50th) is planned for advertisement in August 1990 with a target completion of summer 1992 at a cost of about $8 million. Later phases include major grading and drainage work and a $10.5 million overpass at 7800 South.
The administration has previously directed a $12 million appropriation into the transportation fund; speakers said only about $9 million of that reached West Valley Highway construction, with the remainder allocated to cities and towns. Speaker remarks recorded Governor Bangerter as seeking a supplemental $20 million from the general fund for the DOT to continue the project. One administration representative said the $20 million would carry paving and grading to the 62 Hundred/66 Hundred area and that additional requests for funds are likely as the work continues.
Legislators pressed DOT on connections to existing routes and on demand modeling. A member asked whether adding two lanes to I‑15 plus a light-rail system would handle projected traffic increases; DOT replied that modeling assumes light rail will be operating and could remove about 10% of trips and that planners expect the rail to take off roughly 25,000 vehicles per day from the system. DOT said planned grading along 7200 West is intended to connect with the West Valley freeway alignment, and that work looks beyond the 2010 planning horizon.
No formal committee action on the project was recorded at the briefing. Committee leaders were told the environmental review for sections beyond Ninetieth South would be completed shortly and that final determinations on temporary or ultimate termini have not yet been made. The administration said it will return if additional funding is needed.
