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Show , 7fEAST 200 S, : ; "" tflxr, u; Negotiations failed; 500 South project delayed until spring By GARY R. BLODGETT Editor BOUNTIFUL Time has run out on Bountiful's plans for widening and improving 500 South from Main Street to 500 West, it was decided at a recent city council meeting. Alter learning that all negotiations for obtaining rights-of-way easements had failed, the council decided that the project will be put on hold" for at least the winter months. ''Nothing will be done until at least next spring and then we will have to take another look at the possibility of going ahead with the project. But even then, there's nothing definite that the city will proceed with the project," said City Manager Tom Hardy. , He said there would be three alternatives: (1) that the city" would again attempt to do the project at city-cost - but undoubtedly un-doubtedly at a higher overall cost than was estimated now; (2) that a special improvement district be established to complete the project, in which the property owners would share the cost; or (3) that nothing be done and 500 South would remain as it is today. The "breakdown" in neogitations apparently happened because be-cause "two or three" property onwers from among more than 80 property owners within the area declined to deed to the city a five-foot wide utility easement necessary for completion of the project, the city manager explained. "It was necessary that all property owners participate in the project and that all deed five feet of their property for a utility easement and two feet for widening of the sidewalk," said Mr. Hardy. He added that the city attorney even rewrote the easement contract to assure property owners that the city would not come back on the property owners at a later time and claim the property without paying for it. "We have done everything possible," said Mr. Hardy. "It's just unfortunate that a few property owners from among 70 or 80 who own property along 500 South to hold out and prevent completion of the project." He emphasized that the city still intends to widen the street and make the necessary curb, gutter and sidewalk improvements improve-ments but only if they have the support of all the property owners affected. "Otherwise, the project will not be completed and 500 South will remain a very narrow, congested collector street that will get even worse in future years," he said. If the project becomes a special improvement district, all costs will have to be paid for by the property owners, just like special improvement districts organized in residential areas for the same purpose of street, curb, gutter and sidewalk improvements, improve-ments, the city manager explained. "And if nothing is done, the street which is already overcrowded over-crowded and dangerous - will become so congested that many motorists will use other, less convenient streets," he noted. Continued on page two 500 South project Continued from page one Estimated cost of the project today is $250,000, with city crews doing much of the workd. Money would come from surplus funds and there would be no out-of-the-pocket expense to the existing property owners. Original plans for widening and improving 500 South would include two travel lanes each direction with a left-turn collector lane the length of the project. Mr. Hardy noted that because there is no collector lane for left turns now, 500 South has one of the worst accident records in the city. Five Hundred south from Main to 400 East has been widened and improved, and construction work is underway now for widening and improving 500 South from 400 East to Davis Boulevard. This project will cost an estimated $140,000. |