The Utah Transportation Commission Friday awarded a total of $3.6 million to two Salt Lake businesses that will be disrupted by the construction of a road that will connect I-215 with Big Cottonwood Canyon.
The unnamed road will interrupt two gravel pit operations near what will become the Knudson's Corner interchange at about 64th South and 23rd East, according to Utah Department of Transportation spokesman Kim Morris.The Gibbons and Reed Co. will be paid $1.4 million and AJ Dean & Sons, $2.2 million in the right-of-way settlements approved by commissioners, Morris said. Under state law, the commission must approve any settlement of $25,000 or more.
Negotiations are still underway with the owners of the land where the Gibbons and Reed Co. operation is located, but AJ Dean & Sons accepted $231,000 for 2.2 acres of their land.
The state's settlement with AJ Dean & Sons includes $275,000 for buildings on the land sold to the state. The remaining money, as well as the amount paid to Gibbons and Reed, will compensate for having to relocate equipment.
Morris said the gravel pits may have to shut down for some time while their operations are redesigned to accommodate the new road. Construction is expected to begin on the road within two weeks and should be completed by December.
The road is part of the project to complete I-215. Paving should begin Monday on the freeway at 20th East and continue through Knudson's Corner to 47th South.