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Show Orchard Drive Expansion: Mammoth By GARY R. BLODGETT BOUNTIFUL - A mammoth mam-moth expansion program to widen and improve Orchard Drive and 2600 South was outlined out-lined to residents of the area at a public meeting Wednesday night. AFTER presentation of the proposed program by City Engineer En-gineer Jack Balling, most of the residents attending the meeting said they agreed with the expansion plans and generally gener-ally favored the project. I here was. of course, some individual opposition to the project but city and county officials were confident that these problems could be worked work-ed out. MR. BALLING told the group that the first phase of the four-phase project would extend ex-tend from 2200 South to 2600 South on Orchard Drive and from Orchard Drive to U.S. Highway 89-91 on 2600 South. Primarily, the proposal calls for two lanes of traffic each direction with a continuous left-turn lane. Also, traffic control signals are planned at 500 West and 2600 South and 2600 South and 200 West where Orchard Drive would enter 2600 South at a right angle. "OTHER CONTROL signals sig-nals would be added as traffic demands." said Mr. Balling. "This could include a traffic light at North Canyon Road where it enters Orchard Drive." The complete project, as proposed, would extend north on Orchard Drive to 500 South. Bountiful. THE ROAD for the entire distance would be w idened to 66 feet (four rods) w hich would necessitate taking about five feet on each side. Mr. Balling explained. Anotherfivefeeton each side would be used by the city for underground utilities, where needed but the property owners could use this land for landscaping, he said. He emphasized that the project pro-ject is a cooprative effort between be-tween the city, Davis County and the state with 90 percent of the total cost estimated at $2 million being paid through state and federal Urban Highway High-way funds. The remaining 10 percent would come from state collector road funds. "THERE WILL be no out-of-the-pocket expense to residents resi-dents of the area or to taxpayers tax-payers of the city," Mr. Balling Ball-ing stressed. "Fences, walis. etc.. would be removed and relocated re-located as a part of the project." pro-ject." However, he noted, trees and shrubs would have to be relocated at the homeowner's expense since there are no provisions pro-visions in the funding to allow for landscaping. Trees not saved would be removed at no cost . HE SAID the project could begin as early as May of next y ejtrand the first phase should be completed four or five nionths later. Traffic would be allowed through the project area during construction, but through traffic traf-fic would be encouraged to take other routes to the Interstate Inter-state during this time. "THE EXPANSION would relieve traffic on Orchard Drive south of 2600 South as well as expediting traffic flow from southeast Bountiful to the Interstate Highway," he said. North Canyon Road from Dais Boulevard to Orchard Drive is being widened to accommodate traffic from the southeast part of Bountiful. ENGINEERING for the project pro-ject is being done by Bounti-ful's Bounti-ful's engineering department while traffic and environmental environmen-tal studies are being completed by Dav is County planning Department De-partment in cooperation with the Wasatch Front Regional Council Traffic Committee. Mr. Balling emphasized to concerned citizens that Orchard Drive w ill not become a "speed way" and that there would be sufficient traffic control con-trol signals to regulate the speed of traffic. MR. BALLING explained that design for the project is geared to 1995 traffic projections projec-tions and that all four lanes probably would not be utilized for sevx.al years. In the meantime, he explained, ex-plained, parking will be allowed on both sides of the street on Orchard Drive and 26(H) South after the streets are widened. "THIS WILL allow parking and conv enient turning for residents re-sidents of the area." Mr. Balling Ball-ing said. "One lane each direction would be kept open for through traffic and with a left-turn lane available, there should be no obstruction of through traffic." He emphasized, however, that as increased traffic demands de-mands either in future years or during peak rush hours parking would be restricted allowing for two lanes of through traffic each direction. CURBS. GUTTERS and 4- foot wide sidewalks will be installed in-stalled on both sides of the streets throughout the entire project. He said speed limits will be strictly enforced, including reduced re-duced speeds in school zones, and that the entire project area will maintain the present residential re-sidential atmosphere. MR. BALLING asked residents resi-dents of the area to sign a "dedication "de-dication plat", deeding their rights-of-way back to the city to allow for the beginning of construction. He explained that court action ac-tion in 1914 established a 66-foot 66-foot right-of-way for the entire project. |