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The Utah Department of Transportation says many of the projects it put on hold today were slated to begin in Utah County, despite the fact that the county's section of Interstate-15 is getting more congested as its population grows.
Utah County is full of growing communities with roads busting at the seams. Now motorists there have to wait.
"The traffic capacity is just crazy. It's totally nuts as far as I'm concerned," said Phill Gorsback, a Utah County commuter.
Commuter Douglas Jones said, "Because we've grown so much, we need some more corridors to move traffic out here smoother."
UDOT's announcement today involves several big-ticket projects in Utah County -- mainly the I-15 reconstruction that would have cost UDOT $2.6 billion. It's money the department can't afford to spend.
"Everyone wants road improvement, but I'd rather have a fiscally responsible state government," said commuter Ray Stewart.
Another $200 million saved will come from UDOT's Access Utah County projects -- which included state Route 92 from Lehi to Highland and the Vineyard Connector, an alternate route between Orem and American Fork on the west side of I-15.
"I was hoping they'd get that through, especially the corridors we need. It would really help with the congestion we have," Jones said.
While many Utah County projects are postponed, Salt Lake County has largely escaped UDOT's ax. It's something that Utah County residents have definitely noticed.
"We're behind the curve. We've already put so much money and road improvements in Salt Lake County and Davis County. They really haven't kept up with us down here," commuter Kurt Loosly said.
This announcement doesn't include those projects currently under construction, worth about $2 billion.
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