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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The Legacy Parkway -- a highway put on hold by five years of litigation that was settled last fall -- has been sidetracked again.
A federal judge refused today to lift an injunction -- despite an out-of-court settlement with environmental groups and a new set of construction approvals and permits from federal agencies.
Judge Bruce Jenkins said he had no authority to lift the injunction because the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals issued the injunction, not him.
He told lawyers for the state and environmental groups to go to the Denver court.
The lawyers argued that Jenkins was delegated authority to settle the case, but Jenkins wasn't buying it.
It went back and forth like that for 75 minutes -- a legal quagmire.
Finally Jenkins declared -- quote-- "I don't think I have the power. Motion denied."
U-DOT says today's setback means yet another delay for the 14-mile highway connecting Davis County to the outskirts of Salt Lake City.
The highway department says it will ask the appeals court to lift the injunction, but that court's not known for taking quick action.
That could delay the March 2nd groundbreaking.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
