RIVERDALE -- Commuters hoping to avoid Riverdale Road traffic can no longer use Ritter Drive as a westbound alternate.
The city council unanimously voted to make the street one-way eastbound from 1500 West to Freeway Park Drive, forcing westbound traffic off the road at 1500 West. The council hopes to decrease traffic on Ritter with the move but said the city will dead-end the street if it doesn't work.
"Let's do something right away. If that doesn't correct the problem, we'll take the next step," Councilman David Gibby said.
A city survey shows residents on the road are concerned about too much traffic, oil spills from big trucks, speeders and not having sidewalks. City Administrator Larry Hansen said 26 of 28 residents of Ritter Drive who answered the survey want the road closed and that 89 percent of all respondents think the road should be residential.
Police Chief Dave Hansen said the road currently has 2,000 commuters each day but only about 3 percent of them speed.
Mayor Bruce Burrows said the city delayed action on the road because of Riverdale Road construction but now that the west portion of Riverdale Road has been widened, it is faster than taking Ritter.
"Once people get used to Riverdale Road and see how fast it is, they will change their traffic patterns and it will be a residential road again," Councilman Gary Griffiths said.
Councilman-elect Alan Arnold said many residents want to leave the road open and asked the city to get more data before taking action. He was also concerned about pushing traffic onto 1500 West.
"Would you rather have a kid run over on Ritter Drive or a fender bender on 1500 West?" Gibby said.
Councilwoman Shelly Jenkins said the Utah Department of Transportation will be redesigning the 1500 West intersection and this action will help it to gather data for its design.
She supports closing the road once the intersection is complete.
The council will evaluate the change in three months and may also consider action for the east end of Ritter Drive.
Comments