FRUIT HEIGHTS -- Work on the Cherry Hill interchange of U.S. 89 is expected to begin this June and last two years.
The current four lanes of traffic -- two in each direction -- will be maintained during construction on U.S. 89. Traffic on U-273 (Kaysville's south Main Street) will be rerouted through Shepard Lane (1225 North) on a frontage road that is not yet completed, west of U.S. 89."I don't anticipate major disruption," said J. Brent DeYoung, Utah Department of Transportation manager for the $40 million-plus project.
In what DeYoung said will be the worst disruption, access to U.S. 89 east of Cherry Hill will be cut off. For at least one construction season -- this year or next -- residents from the Somerset area will have to use Shepard Lane to access U.S. 89.
The western U.S. 89 frontage road has been started to the south and will be completed by Farmington later this year. It will go up the hill and connect with U-273 west of U.S. 89.
Farmington City Planner David Petersen said he's hopeful UDOT can do as promised and cause no more disruption than when the Hill Field Road interchange on U.S. 89 was constructed a few years ago.
However, he's not sure what to expect on Shepard Lane with all that Kaysville traffic headed to and from the frontage road.
He and all other city officials wish there was some way UDOT could also rebuild the Shepard Lane access to U.S. 89 during the same two years they build the Cherry Hill interchange.
"We're worried about our commercial area," Peterson said, fearing a three- or four-year traffic disruption problem in the area because of the two separate projects.
Fruit Heights city manager Richard Marchant is most concerned about the log jams of traffic that could hinder east-west access in his community. That's because U.S. 89 splits Fruit Heights.
"Construction of this magnitude will create some delays," he said. "But I'm sure the state is doing all it can."
Marchant is also concerned that some anxious commuters might try to shortcut through Fruit Heights. He stressed there is no access to Farmington through Fruit Heights -- except on U.S. 89.
Fruit Heights has lost several businesses because of the land acquisition for the interchange. Marchant said he is very concerned about the remaining business, Cherry Hill resort, and its possible loss of patrons.
Cherry Hill resort officials declined comment on the interchange.
The biggest concern for Kaysville on the interchange work is that it will dramatically increase traffic using 200 North, the city's only access to I-15.
Work for the Cherry Hill project is being bid out in April. DeYoung said the price tag of the projects -- counting land acquisition -- is $40 million to $50 million.
When completed, the interchange will appear similar to the Hill Field Road interchange, with traffic headed from Kaysville to Farmington using a bridge that will go over U.S. 89.
UDOT also plans on rebuilding the southbound lanes of I-15, from Kaysville to Farmington, next summer. DeYoung said at least two lanes in each direction and maybe three will be open at all times during that project.
However, city leaders fear that with both I-15 and Cherry Hill projects under way in the summer of 2000, traffic disruption for Kaysville, Farmington and Fruit Heights will likely be increased.