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Show Several options U.S. 89 faces ckamges . fully maintain, the traffic-carrying ability of (Highway 89) by providing provid-ing a high speed, relatively high-volume high-volume facility," the WFRC report re-port says. But "recent residential growth has increased traffic on the route, causing delays and safety concerns at many of the cross streets." At least 23 traffic deaths have occurred along the Farmington-South Farmington-South Weber stretch since 1979, including three within the past couple cou-ple months. The report notes traffic signals could also be considered for South Weber Drive, Crestwood and Nichols roads, Mutton Hollow and Green roads. Future consideration could add Oakhills Drive (Highway (High-way 109 into Layton) and Kaysvil-le's Kaysvil-le's 200 North. Those last two might not justify street lights immediately but could be "necessary to-provide initial signal spacing." The report advises some road widening because while current traffic levels could be adequately served with traffic lights, drivers won't tolerate conditions if left unchanged un-changed by 2005. UDOT has already completed longer acceleration and deceleration decelera-tion lanes, improved pavement conditions, medians and signing in some of those intersections, where lights would be placed, the report noted. Mr. Kennison stresses "mayors and city staff' of affected areas are aware of proposals. "We're right on top of it. We know what needs to be done," he adds. The fact that Highway 89 is the only north-south route besides Interstate In-terstate 15 must also be remembered remem-bered in considerations, he adds. " ' By TOM BUSSELBERG OGDEN Traffic already warmts stop lights at Highway 193, or the Hill Field Road south of the base, but plans are in the works for another alternative. David Kennison, Utah Department Depart-ment of Transportation District 1 traffic engineer, says design work is underway for a structure that would carry eastbound traffic under Highway 89, looping it and then routing it north. Looking westbound, plans are in the works to widen 193 to four lanes, connecting with the four lane portion west of the HAFB main gate. Estimated to cost $3 million, $1.5 million has been already earmarked ear-marked while the other half must still be secured. "We're working with HAFB to get some money," he says. His "personal feeling" is the project could be completed within . three years, but "that's quick," Mr. Kennison adds. Highway 89's future and whether it will include street lights or freeway-type interchanges came to light last month. The Davis Council of Governments discussed the issue, endorsing a stop light option op-tion for safety reasons although backing a freeway interchange system sys-tem as optimum, but expensive. Figures of $20 million were used for four interchanges with similar amounts quoted in a Wasatch Front Regional Council "Corridor Study" released last May. Mr. Kennison put that amount at $50 million, however. "The Ogden area (including Farmington north) receives only about $900,000 a year" for such projects. At 62 years to raise I . :ecessary funds K he added... . "realistically, we're not going to do that," or build interchanges. Besides, interchange construction construc-tion would limit access to only a few intersections, he continues. The Farmington Junction "would warrant" traffic lights based on traffic now if the islands in place were removed. "Nobody would ever propose that," however, howev-er, he hastens to add, because of the steep grade from the north and west. Shepard Lane "would not merit a light yet, but it's pretty close," he says. As far as other points, he continues: con-tinues: 2nd North to Kaysville, "quite a few years," "none would be needed along Fruit Heights, the resident there of nine years indicates. indi-cates. Cherry Lane could be "five-six years." Traffic signals, with improvements improve-ments for turning lanes, acceleration accelera-tion and related projects could total tot-al $500,000, he says further. Like others, Mr. Kennison says traffic signals won't solve all problems. prob-lems. In fact, "they would cut the traffic capacity in half" and "greatly increase the accident rate." "The accident rate would probably prob-ably go up four-six times" the first year and then drop to about "three times the old rate," the 28-year traffic engineer veteran said. And while it'd be hoped that traffic traf-fic accident severity would decrease de-crease with lights, he says "they do in the city but not in an area like that. An accident at 50 miles an hour is every bit as serious" whether a rear-end near a light or side-swipe, on the open road, he continues. "It has been UDOT's attempt to |