In the Crossfire
There are no comments for this page [ Add Comment ]Saturday, March 10, 2007
By Jordan Muhlestein
Standard-Examiner staff
"Hear more about the intersection"
Fatal intersection to be remodeled with stoplight
WEST HAVEN --The Utah Department of Transportation is planning a traffic light and reconstruction of an intersection that saw three accidents Wednesday, one of which resulted in a fatality.
West Haven Mayor Brian Melaney said he has been concerned about safety at the intersection of 4000 South and 3500 West for some time, long before this week's accidents.
Richard Vanleuven, 40, of Plain City, died Wednesday night after he drove across 4000 South on 3500 West and was hit by an oncoming vehicle.
Melaney said 4000 South is a state road, so the city doesn't have any direct power to improve it.
That didn't stop him from talking to representatives from the state, including Gov. Jon Huntsman and UDOT Region One Director Cory Pope.
Melaney said he talked to Pope Thursday and learned the Legislature had given UDOT money, which will be used to improve the intersection.
"They hope to have a design and build on it, and get construction started as quickly as possible," Melaney said. A projected start date is sometime this summer.
He estimated the cost to re-construct the intersection at $1.6 million because of the need to get right-of-ways from several property owners, fill in some large ditches and expand the roadway. Melaney also guessed the road would have to widened at least 1,000 feet east and west of the intersection.
He said the city hopes the intersection will be safer and provide a better traffic flow after it is improved. Currently, some drivers go through surrounding neighborhoods in order to avoid the intersection.
With increased traffic throughout the western part of Weber County, roads like 4000 South are being used almost as much as the traditional main thoroughfares, like Midland Drive and Riverdale Road, said Sheriff's Capt. Klint Anderson. The sheriff's office is trying to keep up with the growth.
"We are working closely with local city planning commissions and councils," he said.
Anderson said traffic should continue to increase as new homes are built in the area, as well as when new businesses are built. A Wal-Mart store is going to be built at 4000 South and Midland Drive.
"We're anticipating this new Wal-Mart will bring in more traffic," he said. "Stores like that also bring in other stores alongside them."
In the past two years there have been 27 accidents at the intersection, Anderson said.
"Considering the traffic volume, that is not entirely unusual," he said.
People in the area, though, said there are many more close calls that don't become accidents.
"I hear tires screeching all the time," said Jose Barela, who works near 3700 West and 4000 South.
He said during the morning and evening commute it is difficult for people trying to get onto 4000 South from their driveways.
"I think they need to widen it and slow it down," Barela said. "There is way too much traffic out there right now. It is only two lanes, and there is no turn lane."
The current speed limit varies from 50 mph to 55 mph.
Barela also said he has seen cars that were driven off the roadway into the deep irrigation ditches that run alongside the pavement.
Don Byington, who lives at 3850 S. 3500 West, said he sees drivers going much faster than the speed limit in front of his home.
"It is hard to pull into my own driveway when people are on my bumper," he said. "I think they should put in a turnout or something."
Byington said he moved to his home 13 years ago in an attempt to live in the country, but the rapid construction of new homes in the last few years has made it seem more like he is in the city.
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