Merchants located along 9000 South are singing songs of thanksgiving for the completion of road construction - just in time to reap the harvest of holiday shoppers.
Residents are thrilled too with the new four-lane road that handles the heavy traffic to one of Utah's fastest growing suburbs. The $4 million reconstruction project began in April and was delayed six weeks. The thoroughfare has been closed since June 1.Joining in the celebration are Utah Department of Transportation officials. "Maybe now our phones will quit ringing," said Kevin Beckstrom, UDOT spokesman.
There is still work to do on the road, but it will not be closed for traffic again, he promises. The project includes new curb and gutter, irrigation facilities, sidewalks and the reconstruction of the box culvert carrying the North Jordan Canal.
"When we missed the deadline, the business community and residents were rightfully upset," he said. Delays were caused by problems over obtaining right-of-way, contracts and equipment.
"There could be litigation from some businesses that claim they had to close because of the construction. But just because a business is located on a certain road doesn't mean they have a God-given right to business," said Beckstrom.
Nearly 60 merchants were affected by the closure of the road for reconstruction between 700 West and Redwood Road. After the target completion date had been missed, merchants met with UDOT to express their frustrations.
A spokesman for the merchants told the Deseret News that communication with UDOT improved greatly after that meeting. A newsletter was sent to merchants bi-weekly updating them on the progress of the road.
Smaller businesses were impacted more intensely by the decline in traffic. Other stores that are part of national chains were affected by fewer customers but less vulnerable.
"We were all very concerned when construction seemed to come to a standstill. But once they began pushing completion of the project, I was impressed with how quickly things got done," the spokesman said.
Clark McFarlane, West Jordan City engineer, believes the rapid growth in the Salt Lake Valley delayed the project because contractors were juggling projects valleywide.
"If this had been a slow construction season, it would have been completed sooner. Given the challenges faced, I think the contractor, Geneva Rock, did a very good job," he said.
McFarlane said he did not see negligence on anyone's part. "9000 South used to be a narrow, one-lane road carrying an unbelievable amount of traffic. The reconstruction was desperately needed."