AMERICAN FORK -- It won't solve all theproblems, but it will help with many of them. American Fork isplanning on upgrading 900 West, from State Street through the 700North intersection. The road is east of Costco in Lehi, and hasseen congestion and concern in recent years.
Through a cooperative agreement with Utah County, American Forkhas $3.5 million in funds to make the improvements. City engineerAndy Spencer estimated the funds would enable the city to build theimprovements from the roundabout in The Meadows to the north sideof 700 North, and a small portion of 700 North, just east of 900West.
There will be a traffic signal at the intersection. On 900 West,there will be two lanes in each direction, plus a center turn lane.There will be two left turn lanes for westbound traffic on 700North, which, along with the signal, are expected to help alleviatea lot of the congestion in the area.
"We are trying to enhance the function of this corridor to thebest extent possible," Spencer said. How much is actually possiblewill be better known when the bids come in for the work, probablyafter the first of the year.
"We are optimistic that our budgeting will take us that far,"Spencer said of the anticipated portion.
Another aspect of the work will be to change the angles on the"S" curve on 900 West, north of 700 North.
"We will soften the 'S' curve dramatically," Spencer said.
The improvements are not coming without a cost, however. Notonly is there the monetary cost, but many of the neighboringproperty owners will have to give up some land for the road.Spencer said it was a good decision.
"As in any difficult negotiation, if nobody feels like theyclearly won, it is a good compromise," he told the citycouncil.
The city is purchasing the lot on the northeast corner of theintersection. Some property will come from Ryan Bybee, thedeveloper of the Cambridge Court subdivision, slated to be built onthe west side of the road. Some will come from Jeff Mitchell ofMitchell Farms, and Dan Richards on the east side. Bybee said itwas hard, but would make a better situation.
"I think this is going to be a drastic improvement upon what iscurrently there," he said. "It is a compromise on all sides."
In 2002, before Costco and nearby entities were built, AmericanFork created a plan for the future of 900 West. That includedmaking it three lanes all the way down to State Street. The portionbetween the 700 North intersection and State Street has since beenenlarged, on paper at least. The question has remained, however,how to soften the "S" curve to the north, and where to take theproperty to do that.
While some suggested taking equally from both the east and westsides of the road, Spencer recommended more come from the eastside.
"In 2002, the city did a right-of-way study and adopted thecorridor that placed more of the future expansion on the east sideof the road," he said. "The reason was primarily the number ofoccupied residences that were on the west side of the road."Spencer said it would be more economical for the city to purchaseundeveloped land than houses.
"We just want to try and get as far as we can with what wehave," he said.
Councilman Shirl LeBaron agreed.
"It is important that the taxpayers' money is used frugally," hesaid. "We have to do what is in the best interest of the city."
More of the property for the future road will come from the eastside, under this agreement, and the majority of that will be fromthe Mitchells. The family runs a business selling produce on 700North. Spencer said the city took the Mitchells' impact underconsideration and made some concessions regarding the futureexpansion of 700 North to help make up for the 900 West alignment.Those changes will maintain some of the parking at the business andallow the Mitchells to continue operating.
"We have shifted and narrowed 700 North," Spencer said,indicating it would still be able to function well. "It will be thesame as 50 South."
Councilwoman Heidi Rodeback made the motion to approve thealignment as proposed.
"I think we have reached the best compromise we are going to,"she said.
Councilman Rick Storrs agreed, saying it was good the city spentextra time to iron it out.
"I am glad we did not rush into it," he said. "We need to dowhat is right for the property owners' rights."
Spencer said he was looking forward to the improvement theproject would make.
"At certain times this intersection at State and 900 West isgoing to still be congested, but it will be better," he said.
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