2009-09-17 15:11:55 News, FAQ & more on Utah's Mountain View Corridor
Recent News on the Mountain View Corridor
UDOT has selected the Copper Hills Constructors Team (Granite, Kiewit, W.W. Clyde) to assist them in the design, estimating, and construction of this project. The CMGC delivery method will utilize a two-phase approach. Phase I will be a pre-construction services phase that will include construction scheduling, constructability reviews, design input, material quantity estimates, material procurement, utility coordination, risk analysis, and construction cost estimating ultimately resulting in the development of a GMP. Phase II will begin upon successful negotiation of a GMP and will consist of construction of the project.
UDOT Moving Forward on Mountain View Corridor
Nicole Hunter - FOX 13 Reporter September 2009
LEHI, Utah - It's going to change the way people commute into the Salt Lake Valley. There are new Developments regarding the Mountain View Corridor project. There won't be a project like it in the next decade. The Mountain View Corridor, which will connect I-80 in Salt Lake City to I-15 in Utah County, is officially under contract. In the proposal and planning phase for the past year, now they are officially moving forward.
'Part of the need for the project is the growth that has already happened,' said Teri Newell, Mountain View Corridor Project Manager. 'And there's another piece of it - the growth we're expecting, so were trying to plan for those needs right now.'
In fact, UDOT is planning well ahead. The Mountain View Corridor will be similar to Bangerter Highway in that it will have two lanes in either direction, stoplights about every mile and a speed limit around 45 miles per hour. Unlike Bangerter Highway however, they are purchasing the right of way on either side of phase one so expansion can happen quickly when the time comes.
'Right now we're working with a project that is $730 million dollars that helps us go through design, purchase of right of way and construction,' said Newell. 'Right now we have about 200 people from private industry and we'll have even more than that once we start construction.'
The Mountain View Corridor will connect I-80 and run generally along 5800 West into the Daybreak area then into Utah County where it will connect with I-15 near 2100 North in Lehi. Phase one of the project is in Salt Lake County, the area from Redwood Road to 3000 South. The groundbreaking isn't far away.
'Were actually progressing forward with the project,' said Newell. 'We've been working on design we've been purchasing right of way and we're working on construction starting spring or summer of next year.'
The corridor will cut through mostly open space so they expect during construction there will be minimal disruption to existing roads and traffic.
When will construction start on the Mountain View Corridor? Construction of the roadway or transit elements of the Mountain View Corridor (MVC) cannot begin until funding is allocated and additional design work and right-of-way acquisition is completed.
Will you build the Mountain View Corridor in phases? The MVC team will use a phased construction approach designed to reconcile budget limitations with transportation needs. The first phase of the Mountain View Corridor (MVC) project will include building an arterial roadway and signalized intersections where future interchanges will be. Converting signalized intersections to freeway interchanges in phase two will change the roadway from an arterial to a freeway. In the last phase, more lanes will be added and other improvements will be made to achieve a fully functional freeway with interchanges and ramps.
How long will it take to construct the Mountain View Corridor using the phased approach? Construction will take place gradually over time, based on the transportation needs in the corridor and how much funding is allocated.
Will the Mountain View Corridor be 'another Bangerter Highway' with stoplights? Although the first phase of the Mountain View Corridor (MVC) project will include stoplights like Bangerter Highway, the MVC will evolve into a free-flowing freeway as improvements are made in the second and third construction phases. Bangerter Highway, with intersection widths at approximately 150 feet, was never intended to convert to a freeway system with interchanges. The Mountain View Corridor phased approach ensures that the project will eventually convert to a freeway as interchange locations range from 500 to 700 feet in width.
Why does the Mountain View Corridor phased construction plan include building outside lanes first instead of starting with inside lanes? Building the outside lanes first allows each construction phase to build upon the next. The initial outside lanes are built where the freeway ramps will eventually be, and then lanes are added to the inside. This prevents the need to tear out stretches of the roadway in order to build ramps and bridges in the future.
What will a freeway in the Mountain View Corridor do to the value of our homes? Each property and project is unique, which makes it difficult to answer specific questions about how property values may be impacted. However, general information about property owner's rights and UDOT's acquisition, appraisal, and relocation process can be accessed on the Mountain View Corridor website at www.udot.utah.gov/mountainview. It may also be accessed on the UDOT website (www.udot.utah.gov) under the 'Public' tab, 'Project, Studies, and Future Plans' on the first drop-down menu, and 'Property Rights and Acquisitions' on the second drop-down menu.
Are you looking at the impacts of a Mountain View Corridor freeway on air quality? Air quality is one of the many factors that were evaluated in the Environmental Impact Statement process, and the project meets or exceeds the air quality standards set by state and federal agencies. The Mountain View Corridor is also addressing air quality by providing a balanced transportation solution with transit, carpool lanes and bike and pedestrian trails within the corridor. In addition, federal regulation of motor vehicle emissions combined with air quality standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Utah's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) have helped reduce major vehicle pollutants over the last two decades.
What will the transit be as part of this project? The Utah Transit Authority's preferred transit alternative is on 5600 West in Salt Lake County with a dedicated center-running right-of-way. Transit vehicles will operate alone in their own lanes in the center of the roadway and street traffic would use general-purpose lanes adjacent to the transit. Potential vehicle types appropriate for use include a rubber-tire system such as Bus Rapid Transit or a rail system such as street car or light rail. However, no technology has been selected at this time.
Why don't you implement transit first? Both transit and roadways will be a part of the future transportation picture in the Mountain View Corridor. The phased construction approach delivers both a roadway and transit solution, based on need and funding.
