Railroad bridge is causing traffic problem in Pleasant Grove

PLEASANT GROVE — A historic railroad bridge that crosses U.S. 89 (State Street) near 100 East is rapidly losing its aesthetic appeal as commuting motorists find it increasingly difficult to squeeze five lanes of traffic into two to pass under the structure.

The traffic bottleneck has prompted the Utah Department of Transportation to initiate an environmental impact study to evaluate traffic alternatives to get motorists past the structure that was built in 1937. The alternatives will look at ways to alleviate the current congestion problems and accommodate future traffic volumes while fitting in with the surrounding community.

"This process is long overdue," said Robert Walker, a longtime Lindon resident. "They should fix the congestion as quickly as they can. Take the whole thing out if they have to. I drive through there at least twice a week and it's always a mess."

The traffic bottleneck is creating backups during peak traffic hours, said UDOT spokesman Geoff Dupaix during an open house held Tuesday to discuss the planned study. He said UDOT hopes to find a solution that will relieve traffic congestion in the area.

Robert Mortimer, of Horrocks Engineering, said there are three potential solutions to the bottle neck problem:

• Removing the bridge.

• Widening the passageway under the bridge.

• Putting a road bridge over the railroad tracks.

Whatever solution is selected, it's going to be expensive, he said.

"The area is developing fairly quickly and we'll just see more traffic demands at that location in the future," Dupaix said. "Several people have brought the problem to our attention, which has been helpful in getting the study moving forward."

About 20,000 vehicle trips are made through the area each day. A lot of people use the road as one of their commuter routes to and from home, Dupaix said.

"My main concern is where they route the traffic during construction," said Gordon Walker, an area resident. "It's (the crowding) like the freeway through there now—and I avoid the freeway by taking alternative routes."

State Street is the area's only major north/south alternative for I-15. It is a major feeder to Pleasant Grove, Cedar Hills, American Fork and Lindon.

"We need to come up with a solution that will alleviate the bottleneck while minimizing impacts to the parks, businesses and surrounding areas," Dupaix said. "We need the input of the community because they're the users. We want to meet transportation needs as well as community values."

UDOT's goal is to meet area transportation needs and improve road safety while increasing capacity, Dupaix said.

Steve Allred, owner of Allred's Ace Hardware, said he doesn't have many concerns about the potential road remodeling. He said his business will benefit both aesthetically and economically with the reconstruction. The business would have an entrance on State Street after the changes.

"This (traffic congestion) is an issue that's hard to handle," Allred said. "We must see if there's a solution for all of us."

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E-mail: tsotomayor@desnews.com

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