As has been the case for more than 20 years, controversy continues over the state's efforts to refurbish U.S. 89, a national scenic byway that winds through the narrow Logan Canyon to Bear Lake. Those who badly want to protect the canyon see a charming country road that needs only enough repair to assure safety and preserve the canyon's rugged splendor.
But state officials believe the road is obsolete and dangerous - and must have a major overhaul. Given the heavy amount of traffic using the canyon, significant improvements seem absolutely neccessary.The first nine miles of the road, from the canyon's mouth to Right Hand Fork, were widened in the 1960s, but the rest with its narrow old bridges and crumbling pavement, remains untouched.
That's why UDOT has put U.S. 89 on its Priority 1 list. The agency wants to repair Burnt, Lower Twin and Upper Twin bridges and realign the highway to conform. Once the final environmental impact statement is issued, UDOT will make its final recommendation.
In spite of significant opposition by environmentalists, this seems a reasonable plan. The plan, called "Preferred Alternative," calls for a low-speed road through the lower part of the Middle Canyon area, which currently features a narrow, winding highway. That will turn into a four-mile transitional road 34 feet wide with a 35 mph speed limit in the upper Middle Canyon. That, in turn, will become a 40-foot-wide, 50 mph highway with uphill passing lanes from the end of Middle Canyon to Bear Lake Summit.
From Bear Lake Summit to the Bridgerland subdivision, the road will feature passing lanes and a 40 mph speed limit. From Bridgerland to Garden City, the highway speed will increase to 50 mph.
This will be very expensive by any estimate, and may take as long as 10 years to complete. At the very least the critical bridges should be repaired while the environmental impact statement is being prepared. Then a final decision can be made, carefully, taking into account public disagreement, as well as the role of federal money.
Although critics worry about damaging the spawning areas for trout and filling the canyon with construction debris, UDOT officials are convinced the project can be done tastefully, reseeding cuts and keeping silt out of the water.
The important thing is that there is still room for flexibility and negotiation after immediate safety repairs are made.