FARMINGTON -- Hundreds of Davis County residents showed up Wednesday night to voice concerns about the state's West Davis Corridor project.
The project, which will likely result in an extension of the Legacy Parkway, has been pared down to three possible routes, all of which run west of Interstate 15 from 12th Street in Ogden to Parrish Lane in Centerville -- an area in which the Utah Department of Transportation expects the population to grow by 75 percent by 2040.
Kaysville and West Haven officials, as well as numerous residents, have publicly voiced opposition to some or all of the project's final three alignments.
In Kaysville, the proposed alignment is east of the city's power lines, which means homes will be affected if the state's current vision of the four-lane divided highway is built.
Kaysville residents Bill and Lorinda Griffiths will likely have property affected by the project.
"It's either going right through our house or cut through our backyard," Lorinda said. "I know a road has to happen, but does it have to come through our backyard?"
Kaysville Mayor Steve Hiatt said the city has been preserving a corridor west of the power lines since a 2001 Wasatch Front Regional Council study that identified a possible route for the road.
The city put its growth boundary inside of that alignment to adequately separate the highway from any homes.
"When we bought our home, that was the information we had," said Bill Griffiths. "We asked about the road, and that's what we were told. We did our due diligence."
Farmington resident Matt Emett won't have property affected by the road, but he has issues with the project.
"To me, the impacts are just too great," he said. "In my neighborhood, trails are going to be sliced up, and then you have all these people being displaced. Why can't they widen I-15 or Highway 89?"
UDOT Region One Director Kris Peterson said the state is sympathetic to the concerns of the affected parties.
"We understand the concerns that some of these folks have, but we have to balance everything -- homes, historical properties, wetlands. We're trying our best to minimize the impacts as much as we can."
Peterson also said the state realizes Kaysville has been preserving a corridor for the project.
"We are aware of that, but again, we have to think of all of the stakeholders involved, not just one," he said. "And it's also important to know this isn't a done deal. We're going to find the best solution for everyone involved."
The road will cost $400 million to $525 million.
Depending on the option that is advanced, there will be 98, 123 or 137 residential acquisitions as part of the project.
Another open house on the project will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at West Haven Elementary School, 4385 S. 3900 West.
UDOT will soon begin to draft an environmental impact statement, which will be followed by another public hearing process.
A final record of decision is expected by spring 2013.
The three alternatives can be viewed in detail at the project's website, www.udot.utah.gov/westdavis.
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