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Ashley Hayes Reporting Building a skybridge in downtown Salt Lake City has been a sore subject with mayor Rocky Anderson. He has been opposed to building the bridge since its inception, saying it will hurt business on Main street.
Despite those claims, it appears Utahns want the option.
Our latest KSL TV-Deseret Morning News poll by Dan Jones and Associates shows a large majority favor building the bridge. In fact, 77 percent of the 410 people questioned want the downtown skybridge.
Statewide S.L. CountyDefinitely Favor 56% 47%
Probably Favor 21% 26%
Neither Favor 9% 11%
nor Oppose
Probably Oppose 2% 1%
Definitely Oppose 7% 11%
Seventy-three percent of the 161 Salt Lake County residents polled want it, too.
The bridge would connect the two halves of downtown in the City Creek Center development project. Mayor Anderson opposes the skybridge, saying it will funnel people off of Main Street and hurt local businesses there. He feels it will only benefit mall retailers.
Therefore he is considering selling air rights or conservation easement over Main Street to prevent the bridge from going in, which would require council approval.
Developers say the bridge is an essential part of the project, that a dual-level shopping experience will not be feasible without the bridge linking the two sides.
The city council recently approved an amendment of the downtown master plan that includes the skybridge.
Anderson is still fighting it, though, once again, judging from our poll, most Utahns are not behind him on this issue.
