Commissioners hear support, criticism for bypass route around Vernal


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VERNAL — Uintah County Commissioners announced Tuesday that they've tabled part of a project intended to make downtown Vernal safer by routing industrial truck traffic south of the city.

The decision to begin construction only on the east side of the Ashley Valley Energy Route is the result of changing economic conditions in the region, according to Uintah County Commissioner Mark Raymond.

"We acknowledge that things are different now than they were (in 2008) when the study was completed," Raymond said, referring to a study conducted by the Uintah Transportation Special Service District at the request of county commissioners.

"We, as a commission, decided that it probably wasn't a good idea to go ahead with the building of the west side (of the bypass route)," Raymond told a room filled business owners, elected officials and Uintah County residents who gathered to voice their concerns or their support for the project.

In total, the Ashley Valley Energy Route would run nearly 13 miles, connecting U.S. 40 south of Vernal with U.S. 40 in Naples, according to the proposal. Plans to build the east side of the bypass — connecting U.S. 40 in Naples with state Road 45 south of Naples — are still on track.

Adam Massey, executive director of the Uintah Transportation District, said work could begin this year on the $15 million, 4.25-mile eastern stretch of road meant to take industrial trucks off downtown streets in Vernal and Naples.

"A lot of people who come to our area don't want to deal with big truck traffic because they're not used to it," Massey said. "It's kind of a way of life here."

The district still has to secure a right of way from the Bureau of Land Management before it can start construction on the remaining 8.25 miles, Massey said. For the time being, county commissioners say securing that right of way is their only goal for the west side of the route.

Critics of the project, however, say the number of heavy trucks associated with the area's energy industry has dropped so drastically with the world's record low oil prices that a bypass route is no longer needed.

Others argue the western end of the route will destroy a nationally recognized network of mountain bike trails in the McCoy Flats area. The primary concern for most opponents though is that potential visitors to the area — and the money that comes with them — will go around Vernal altogether if the option exists.

"You put that bypass route in and I can guarantee you people won't stop at a hotel and ask, 'What's in Vernal?'" said Carma Slaugh, who works the front desk at two hotels.

"People are going to bypass Vernal," Slaugh said. "If I'm driving through a town and I see a shortcut, I'm going to take it."

Supporters of the route, however, say the project will ultimately benefit the area. They say it will divert hazardous materials off Main Street, reduce traffic noise in the downtown area and improve safety for pedestrians and drivers of noncommercial vehicles.

"Every town and city has to grow. You can't keep routing that traffic through the middle of town forever if you want growth," said Terry Kiever, who is frustrated by the double tanker trucks that regularly rumble past his house.

"The longer you put it off, the worse it gets," Kiever added. "Safety is an issue."

Troy Lupcho, owner of Altitude Cycle and one of the architects of the trails at McCoy Flats, said he's happy to hear the west side of the bypass route is on hold for now. Still, he questioned how long that will last once the east side of the route is finished.

"Once phase one is initiated and put in place," Lupcho said, "it just doesn't make sense that the rest of the puzzle won't be connected."

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Geoff Liesik

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