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KAYSVILLE — A stretch of U.S. 89, from Fruit Heights to Uintah, is slated for conversion into a six-lane freeway, including frontage roads.
Realizing they couldn't bring the project to a complete halt due to ongoing traffic concerns, a citizens' group calling themselves Residents Voices United on 89, or ReVU89, is pushing the Utah Department Of Transportation to keep the road's nearest neighbors in mind.
"It's a huge concern to an area that is already totally residentially built up, and has a semi-rural feel to it," said Jeanne Groberg, and ReVU89 board member.
Groberg, who was also recently elected to the Fruit Heights City Council, said ReVU89, consisting of members from several Davis County communities, is already making progress toward addressing their concerns.
"UDOT has said they'll use noise-reducing asphalt rather than concrete," Groberg said. "We're promised to have a policy of no billboards."
She said recent changes also include so-called "dark-sky" lighting, which will focus lights at intersections rather than adding to light pollution in the area.
UDOT project manager Mike Romero pointed out that the Highway 89 project is currently in a public comment phase, slated through Feb. 2.
"We're trying to do everything we can to minimize the impacts," Romero said. "Right now, Highway 89 is operating at failing conditions during the peak periods of the day."
At a public hearing Tuesday night, members of ReVU89 were working to recruit more members of the community. Groberg said bringing more people onboard will help them to better focus the needs of residents throughout the route and county.
"We've always been a part of a group that wanted to be part of improving (U.S. 89) in a way that benefits not just those going from point A to point B, but those who live right along here as well," Groberg said.
While ReVU89 has made some progress, Groberg said their focus now is on aesthetic improvements to the road, hopefully making it look in the end more like Legacy Parkway than I-15.
