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LEHI -- The Utah Department of Transportation has shut down two of the three major roads that lead into the Traverse Mountain area in Utah County so crews can work on Timpanogos Highway.
The biggest reaction is one of annoyance. Maybe a week or two, we could deal with that, but three months is a significant amount of time.
–Connor Boyack.
#boyack_quote
Residents of Traverse Mountain say they're frustrated over Sunday's closures and worry it could cause major backups with only one way into the development.
"The biggest reaction is one of annoyance," said Traverse Mountain resident Connor Boyack. "Maybe a week or two, we could deal with that, but three months is a significant amount of time."
UDOT crews are working to expand state Route 92, also known as Timpanogos Highway. Crews will be putting in five lanes, plus two commuter lanes, that will allow drivers to get from Interstate 15 to Highland Boulevard without hitting a traffic light.
The entire project won't be done until next fall. Because of all the construction, Triumph Boulevard and Morning Glory Road -- two roads that lead up to Traverse Mountain -- will be closed for the next three months.
"Part of the reason why we are closing these roads is there is a great distance in elevation between concrete pavement and existing roadway, so it's not really safe to keep those accesses open for people coming in and out of Traverse Mountain," said UDOT spokesman Scott Thompson.
The only way into the community is to take the frontage road to Cabela's Boulevard -- an intersection that already sees a lot of traffic.
"Knowing that the other two roads are diverting all the traffic there, there is a lot of worry of how long they'll be sitting at light and what it is going to do in the area with congestion," Boyack said.
"Maybe [I'll] parasail my way into work instead of it being backed up for 20 to 30 minutes," said Marshal White, who also lives in Travers Mountain.
UDOT says closing the two access roads is the safest and quickest way to finish the project.
"We hope it's not a huge inconvenience for all those people up there, and we don't close off roads without some real safety concerns, or traffic concerns involved," Thompson said.
"I think it's a small price to pay to have a big improvement on that road," said Traverse Mountain resident Amy Oliver.
Residents say they also worry about increased response times in the event of an emergency. UDOT says if something were to happen, it would open up the roads for emergency crews.
Triumph Boulevard and Morning Glory Road should both be open by the end of April.
E-mail: aforester@ksl.com
