It certainly wasn't the way Shirley Iverson would have recommended West Jordan tackle its transportation problems. In fact, said the UDOT commission's secretary, it was a real pain.
Iverson's inconvenience aside, West Jordan officials say drivers' telephone complaints to the Utah Department of Transportation commissioners helped put a critical road-widening project back on the table.The project, which begins with the widening of Redwood Road in the super congested stretch between 6600 South and 7800 South, isn't a done deal, but probably will be OK'd, said Assistant City Manager Penny Atkinson.
"As a staff, we feel like we're back on track," said Wayne Harper, the city's community development director.
The city maintains that widening the well-traveled road is critical to economic development efforts and smooth traffic flow in the growing city.
Last week, after Atkinson told commissioners about the city's infrastructure woes, commissioners agreed to consider some funding approval for the project if the city helped bring down the $14 million price tag.
The city probably will pay part of the right-of-way costs to acquire land to widen the road to 106 feet, Harper said. Officials also may adjust the timing on different phases of the project to save money.
Late in October, Harper learned UDOT had canceled funds to improve Redwood Road between 6600 South and 10400 South. In a fit of frustration, officials installed a huge sign that blamed UDOT for the problem and encouraged drivers to complain to UDOT's transportation comission - ultimate decisionmakers on project funding.
Iverson took five to 10 minutes to explain UDOT's funding process to each of 35 callers over a couple of weeks. Many were misinformed about the project's history, she said. "Quite frankly, we don't feel this is an appropriate way to deal with this situation," Iverson said.
Unconventional? Yes. Inappropriate? Maybe. Effective? For sure.
"We were really at our wits end with this," Harper said. "We had to turn to our public for help."
In a conciliatory gesture this week, officials threw a banner over the sign that reads: "Thanks UDOT. We're back on track."
Harper says city officials will meet with UDOT every week to make sure the project progresses as planned.
But the sign stays up, Harper says, and will be used to keep drivers who brave Redwood Road each day appraised of developments until construction begins, which probably will be next year.
In a goodwill exchange, city officials will lobby the Legislature for money to improve infrastructure statewide.