PROVO — With the second phase of the Provo Canyon highway reconstruction project nearly complete, preliminary work is beginning on the next section.
However, actual construction on the next phase, which will widen U.S. 189 to four lanes between Wildwood subdivision and Deer Creek State Park, is still a few years away. Before construction can begin on the 5.3-mile section, the Utah Department of Transportation must complete a supplemental environmental impact statement.
Environmental concerns in the pristine canyon are the main reasons the 25-year-old project has moved so slowly. An original study was prepared in 1978, changed in 1989 and again revised in 1995.
Because of design, construction and traffic-use changes since completion of the last study, UDOT will restudy the Wildwood to Deer Creek State Park construction plans to ensure that design parameters and environmental considerations are appropriate.
"There have been a lot of concerned groups in the canyon who feel the situation has changed," UDOT spokeswoman Melanie Buck said. "If things have changed, then we need to give the community an opportunity to comment and take that into account."
U.S. 189 has been widened to four lanes from the 1-15/800 North interchange to Wildwood. The section near Wildwood, however, won't be complete until the mountainside just east of the two tunnels is stabilized and barriers are constructed in the median. The material that UDOT officials want to use for the slope stabilization and median differs from that included in the original plan, requiring further environmental study before the final work can be completed. Officials hope the final construction work on that phase can be completed this summer.
The final phase of the highway project, which would widen the highway from Deer Creek to Heber City, remains in the conceptual stage.
A major part of the next phase will include reconstructing the highway across Deer Creek Dam. One proposal is to build the road on the downstream face of the dam. This design would require modifications to the dam and possible replacement of the spillway.
The Bureau of Reclamation, UDOT and Provo River Water Users Association are working together in developing alternatives for this section of the highway. The Bureau of Reclamation hopes to join in any reconstruction on the dam to bring it up to modern standards.
"The joint effort may yield considerable cost savings in meeting the objectives of both governmental agencies," said bureau spokesman Bruce Barrett.
For the next few months, public comment will be taken on environmental concerns relating to the next construction phase. A cooperating advisory team representing state, federal and local government agencies, the public and environmental groups will be formed to discuss concerns. The advisory team will meet regularly with the project directors to provide comment.
The first public meeting is scheduled for April 27 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Room 150 at Canyon View Junior High School, 655 E. 950 North, in Orem. Information received during this meeting and several future meetings, will be used to prepare by the end of 2000 a draft supplemental environmental impact study.
"There's a couple of windows of opportunity for the public to let us know their concerns," Buck said.
The draft study will undergo about six months of review and public comment, which could result in more changes and adjustments to the construction plan.
"We then have to fine-tune the proposal," Buck said.
A final supplemental environmental impact study should be ready to submit the the Utah Transportation Commission and Federal Highway Administration by late 2001. The earliest the project would go out for bid would likely be spring of 2002, and only then if funding for construction is secured.
"If there are any hurdles we have to go through, then that obviously will lengthen the process," Buck said.