Smaller rebuild of I-15 in Salt Lake, Utah counties mulled by lawmakers
On Tuesday, Senate Republicans endorsed the idea of just rebuilding I-15 from American Fork to U.S. Highway 6 in Utah County. The group had supported a re-build from 12300 South in Salt Lake County to U.S. 6, but learned the American Fork option, which is estimated to cost $2.6 billion, might better-preserve bonding capacity.
The original plan, which would have added two lanes in both directions, was estimated to cost $7 billion.
House Republicans took no action to support financing for a smaller re-build during their caucus, but heard debate on the issue. If lawmakers can agree to support a reconstruction plan, the Utah Department of Transportation says it can begin work this year on designs for the re-build.
Construction could begin as early as 2010.
Legislators might still need to authorize the agency next year to issue bonds to finance the re-build, but a support this year indicates a willingness to give UDOT that authority, legislative leaders have said.
By moving the re-build from 12300 South to American Fork, the state will miss out on a critical congestion point near the Point of the Mountain. But Braceras said the shift would still address the most congested part of I-15 in Utah County.
With the reconstruction, two new lanes would be added to I-15 and interchanges would be replaced. UDOT anticipates it would have to pay about $800,000 in interest costs on a bond for the rebuild.
E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com
Recent comments
Maybe a better idea is to first Improve a route from I-80 to some...
Carl Jones | March 4, 2008 at 8:18 p.m.
