Preliminary Ski Tunnel Plans Cause Confusion

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) Attempts to keep a plan for a tunnel between Alta and Brighton ski resorts under wraps were foiled this week when an internal document from Goldman Sachs was leaked to the media.

The memo outlines a funding plan and some reasons why the tunnel would be good for tourism in Utah. It implies Governor Huntsman's support. Spokesman Mike Mower says Huntsman has only agreed to host a meeting on the issue November 3rd. Meanwhile, resort officials, state transportation leaders and even Alta City Mayor Tom Pollard were caught off-guard:

"It was pretty surprising to us that we did not really know about this before we got the flyer about attending the meeting," says Pollard.

Mower says State Senator Carlene Walker initiated the meeting with Governor Huntsman. Walker is on vacation and not returning phone calls. A Goldman Sachs spokesman says the talking points were not meant for public distribution. Mower adds any plans to bore a hole through the mountain connecting Alta and Brighton are preliminary at best. The proposal estimates the tunnel's cost at 250-million dollars.

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