Utah Lake: Causeway or bridge? Neither, some say

PROVO, Utah (AP) -- Utah's Bridge to Somewhere might not be dead in the water.

One state lawmaker says a private venture like Utah Crossing Inc. could be interested in building a toll causeway across Utah Lake if the state can straighten out rules for required environmental studies.

The Utah Legislature slashed a $3 million spending item to study "a raised highway that traverses Utah Lake" to $750,000 two months ago, and lawmakers probably will take the remaining money next year to keep the state budget balanced.

State Rep. Ken Sumsion of American Fork says he's looking at sponsoring legislation that would give private companies exact guidance on commissioning their own environmental studies.

The 7-mile bridge was proposed as a way to shorten and ease the commute for residents on the fast-growing west side of Utah Lake. Commuting on country roads around the lake's north end can take more than two hours.

Local boaters, hunters and environmental advocates have opposed a bridge or causeway. The Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club says the idea should be scrapped altogether, calling it a land development scheme that would forever mar the lake's ecosystem.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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