Legacy Highway is the name of a freeway in Utah planned to run from Brigham City in the north down the western side of the Wasatch Front to Nephi in the south, connecting with I-215 in Salt Lake County. It was proposed in 1996 by Utah Governor Michael O. Leavitt. The first portion planned to be built is the section from I-215 to the junction of I-15 and US-89 in Farmington. The proponents of the freeway say that the freeway is needed to significantly decrease the traffic along the heavily-burdened I-15 corridor between Davis and Salt Lake Counties and to provide an alternative when I-15 is blocked because of construction or auto accident.
Some opponents object to the highway because it would encourage sprawl, people building residences and businesses adjacent to the highway. Other opponents object because along parts of the route, the highway would cut through some marshlands along the eastern edge of the Great Salt Lake and threaten wildlife. Construction on the Legacy Highway began in 2004 after many delays, but is currently delayed again as a result of lawsuits over the completeness of the environmental impact statement. The environmental impacts are currently being re-evaluated.
Because of delays and the length of the freeway, it may be until 2025 or later until construction is finished, although officials have stated that the complete proposal may, in fact, never be finished. However, the I-15, US-89 and Legacy Highway interchange in Farmington has been completed, except for the I-15 southbound on-ramp.
The Legacy Parkway is a proposed parkway, walkway and bicycle path that will run adjacent to the highway along the I-215 to Farmington segment.
External Links
Legacy Highway and Parkway
Anti-Highway Viewpoints
Last updated: 10-26-2005 00:15:40
