Legacy Parkway Set for 2008 Debut

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) It's on time, on budget and Governor Jon Huntsman says he's thrilled with the way Legacy Parkway is taking shape:

"But for a coalition of the willing, we'd still be stuck in court battling this thing out. Instead we have not just a highway, we have a parkway," said Huntsman yesterday as he toured progress of the construction. "We're redefining what parkway is - as opposed to just a drive, it will be an experience with trails for biking and hiking. And that will be juxtaposed with commuter rail."

Legacy Parkway extends 14 miles connecting U.S. 89 in Farmington down to I-215 in North Salt Lake. UDOT officials says it's one-third of the way finished, with completion set for late next year. The total price tag is 685-million dollars. UDOT Deputy Director Carlos Braceras says it's monumental for the state on many fronts:

"Outside of the I-15 project we did in Salt Lake County, this is by far and away the largest project we've ever done," says Braceras. "I think it's also received the most attention of any project we've ever done. And it offers probably the highest degree of satisfaction to be where we are right now, just because of all the hurdles we've had to go through to get to this point."

Those hurdles include ten years of planning, four years of litigation and months of negotiation with environmental groups over the impact the road will have on neighboring wetlands. The redesigned parkway has two lanes in each direction and a speed limit of 55 miles an hour.

A footpath and bike trail run the length of the parkway along 22-hundred acres of nature preserve. Legacy Parkway will offer Davis County commuters and businesses an alternate to growing gridlock on I-15.

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