Spending bill will be boon to Utah County

By Tad Walch
Deseret Morning News
Published: Friday, Nov. 18, 2005 9:13 p.m. MST
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OREM — The federal government will provide $2 million to study improvements to the Alpine Loop (U-92) from I-15 to American Fork Canyon after Senate and House negotiators in Washington, D.C., reached a compromise Friday on a spending bill.

The 2006 appropriations act would bring $21 million to Utah and $6.3 million for transportation and other projects to the state's 3rd Congressional District, which includes most of Utah County.

The House passed the measure 392-31. Once approved by the Senate and signed by President Bush, the bill would bring:

• $600,000 to Provo for the city's new performing arts center

• $500,000 to Orem to widen Geneva Road from 1600 North to University Parkway

• $200,000 to Eagle Mountain for community development and park facilities improvements.

Third District Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, praised the passage of the bill.

"Transportation is one of the most pressing challenges in Utah and throughout our nation," he said. "This bill will help give us the tools and resources we need to respond. This is an important step forward in dealing with some of the most serious concerns we face in Salt Lake and Utah counties as well as other parts of the state."

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Cannon's communications director, Charles Isom, said the money will help pay for an environmental study to address capacity needs in the Lehi-Alpine area.

The Lehi interchange is under increasing stress, UDOT spokesman Brent Wilhite said.

"That whole area right there around U-92 has seen tremendous growth, not just because of commercial growth but residential growth, too," he said. "So many people have moved into that area, congestion has increased significantly."

Developments on both sides of I-15 just south of Point of the Mountain include Cabela's, a popular tourist attraction and outdoors retailer, which opened in August. In October, Lehi officials announced plans for the Terrace at Traverse Mountain, a proposed 150-acre business retail park overlooking I-15.

The Terrace would open in 2009.

"Obviously that part of the county is growing and growing fast," UDOT director Tom Hudachko said. "There needs to be some relief to the congestion already there and the congestion that's on the way."

UDOT made improvements to the I-15 interchange at U-92 in anticipation of increased traffic due to the opening of Cabela's. An extra left-turn lane was added to the southbound I-15 offramp.

E-mail: twalch@desnews.com

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