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Show U.S. 40 widening Naples to woo owners for land right-of-way Naples The city council Thursday night declared it's approval of a proposal that would have property owners along the west side of the U.S. 40 exchange property for a chance to get the highway widened to four lanes next year. Topping the agenda at the council's next regular meeting Thursday will be a meeting with property owners. The idea is that an extra 10 feet of right-of-way means a five-lane highway with shoulders and curb and gutter and sidewalk on both sides. The Uintah County Commission will apply for a $3 million loan from the state Community Development Impact Board to widen the highway. The state Department of Transportation would repay the loan, taking over the highway in the process, said Mayor Lawrence Kay. He said the county commission has assurances from Gov. Scott M. Matheson and impact board members that the application will be approved. With the county overseeing the project, it would sidestep environment impact statement rules required normally because the highway is a federal route, said Kay. "I can see where we'd get Highway 40 three or four years sooner than we expected." The Utah DOT would pay for the sidewalk and curb and gutter in exchange for the 10-foot right-of-way, Kay added. He said the county is ready to start the project in the Spring, 1983. The widening would extend for three miles from where U.S. 40 narrows to two lanes, at about 1000 East. Property owners on the east side of the route would have to give'a "sloping easement, " which grants that side of the highway has to be built higher than the west side. The council tentatively scheduled Thursday's meeting at Naples Elementary School, 1971 South 1500 East. |
