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Show Alternative Routes Cw? e For Btfio Trfic Ills By GARY R. BLODGETT BOUNTIFUL - Where there's a heavy flow of vehicle traffic, that's w here you will usually find the most accidents. AT LEAST THAT'S the case year after year with the heavy flow of traffic on 500 South west of Main Street, according to City Engineer Jack M. Balling. "We continually have an increasing number num-ber of accidents on this half-mile stretch of street, but there's very little the city can do about it," he said. THE WORST intersection for accidents on this street -- as well as the worst for the entire city - is 200 West on 500 South. Last year there were 21 "fender benders" at this intersection, compared to 15 the previous year. "Undoubtedly, it's the great volume of traffic at this point," said Mr. Balling, noting not-ing that more than 20,000 cars per day average aver-age pass through the intersection. "A LOT OF the accidents are caused when motorists making a left turn let one vehicle pass on the inside lane and then pull in front of another vehicle in the outside lane. And the street is so narrow that the oncoming vehicle has no place to swerve to avoid an accident." He pointed out that there are also a lot of rear end collisions on 500 South but most of these occur at 100 West (north entrance to Grand Central) or between 200 and 500 West where cars have stopped to make a left turn into a business or the shopping center. "THE LEFT turn accidents are usually the most severe because one or the other vehicles involved is hit broadside," the city engineer explained. What can Bountiful do about this hazar- dous street? MR. BALLING says there is very little the city can do under the circumstances (1) the street is state (not city) maintained; and (2) there is not much room to widen the street without actually tearing into existing businesses. "Unfortunately, the city does not have a right-of-way for widening the street and if the street was to be widened, it would necessitate moving some existing businesses busines-ses that now extend to the sidewalk," said Mr. Balling. "SOME BUSINESSES west of 400 West, which have been there for years, extend to the sidewalk and would virtually prevent expansion of the street. And you wouldn't want to have a street widened in some parts and then narrow into a bottleneck in other areas." So what's the alternative? MR. BALLING suggests that the best alternative is to relieve the now-busy street with an improved circuit of vehicle traffic. "We all know people who drive out of their way to avoid driving on 500 South west of Main," he says. Bountiful's 400 North has already undergone under-gone some major changes to improve traffic flow on this street. A traffic control light has been installed at 400 North 400 East and a landscaped divider is being completed between be-tween Main and 400 East. ALSO PLANNED for improvement is 2600 South - the third street along with 500 South and 400 North that has direct access and exit off Interstate Highway 15. The first phase of this mammoth street-improvement street-improvement project is scheduled to get underway soon. THIS INITIAL phase will be paving and improving 2600 South from U.S. Flighway 89-91 east on 2600 South to Orchar d Drive and then north on Orchard Drive to 2200 South. Bids should be let within the next week or so and construction started in Marc h. The project should be completed by the end of July, said Mr. Balling. HE NOTED that the construction project could create some problems to motorists this summer, but when completed lit will greatly improve the flow of traffic i n the south and southeast sections of the city. Part of the project, from 500 West t o the highway, will be completed in cooperation with Davis County since that stretch of street is county-owned, it was explained. THE 2600 South project will tie in with Davis and Bountiful Boulevards with access ac-cess on North Canyon Road, the latte r of which was widened and improved last y ear. Mr. Balling said plans are going forward to complete Bountiful Boulevard -- eventually even-tually from 400 North to North Can; on Road on the south. One of the next proje-cts will be to complete an earth-filled cross ing of Millcreek Canyon. "MILLCREEK CANYON will be completed com-pleted this summer, the city engineer sa id. "After that, there will be stretches of street to be completed by the city and by subdivi d-ers, d-ers, and crossing of Barton Creek, befo re the project can be finished in a few years. " Mr. Balling said several intersections i n the city are under study for traffic contrc I lights because of increased traffic flow a .t these sites. THESE INCLUDE 1800 South Main where the 4-way stop intersection increased' in accidents from five to nine in one year; and at 1800 South Davis Boulevard. |