Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
An east-west bridge across Utah Lake is an intriguing idea.
Think about the possibilities for residents in those burgeoning developments west of the lake. Instead of enduring the omnipresent congestion through Lehi, a motorist could zip across the lake in minutes.
Part of the intrigue is the private nature of the proposal. It wouldn't be a taxpayer-funded project, but would be built by investors who would charge a toll to use the bridge. In theory, the cost to cross would be equivalent to the cost of gasoline to go around.
Because the proposed corridor crosses state lands, it is also intriguing that the project would not come under the intense scrutiny of Uncle Sam, with his long list of requirements for compliance. Authorization to build would come from the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands.
That, in KSL's view, places extraordinary responsibility on the state to get it right, particularly when it comes to sensitive issues involving the environmental impact of constructing a 35 to 50 foot high bridge across such a shallow and ecologically sensitive body of water.
As we said, the concept is intriguing. However, before it gets the go ahead, it should be vigorously debated. A host of complex issues need to be resolved.
