Unnecessary Road Construction Projects (Hurricane, Washington: home, neighbourhoods, tax)

[tylerhaynes3]

Does it seem that despite the fact that the STG area is relatively fast growing, we have some unnecesary road projects currently going on and up-coming, taking a toll on local tax payers? Don't get me wrong, both the Dixie Drive and STG Blvd interchanges were welcomed and needed improvements IMO, but the latest reconstruction of building a freeway-like interchange including an overpass at Snow Canyon/RedHills and Bluff seems a little over kill and definetely unnecessary.
UDOT really has it's greedy eyes on the St George-area with projects lined up in the near future, including a 'jug handle' interchange at Sunset and Bluff and a seemingly ridiculous project of removing the dual left-turn lanes on Bluff turning onto St George Blvd.
I'm all for planning and being ahead of the curve in the way of beating/preventing gridlock and bottlenecks, but in all actuality the area still is far from any real gridlock issue, and I find the full-function traffic light set up at the intersection of Snow Canyon and Bluff is just fine for today and well into the future. Afterall, I'm pretty sure they just upgraded those lights with new poles/arms, flashing yellow arrows and additional left-turn lights recently... all to just be taken out and replaced with an overpass??

[irman]

Originally Posted by tylerhaynes3

UDOT really has it's greedy eyes on the St George-area with projects lined up in the near future,

Is this not part of the *system* attitude ?

There is money available (a budget was set up and approved)
So ... , you do not use it, you loose it ?

If you do not know how crazy our *system* is like,
think of the amount of new cars being built for ever,
and not being sold, so they are *parked* somewhere to just sit there and rust away.

Ever seen neighbourhoods where there are paved roads, but nothing else ?

[Geo-Aggie]

Originally Posted by irman

...
If you do not know how crazy our *system* is like,
think of the amount of new cars being built for ever,
and not being sold, so they are *parked* somewhere to just sit there and rust away.
...

Yeah, I've seen that story too. It's actually not real.
snopes.com: Unsold Cars

[karenSG]

Originally Posted by tylerhaynes3

Does it seem that despite the fact that the STG area is relatively fast growing, we have some unnecesary road projects currently going on and up-coming, taking a toll on local tax payers? Don't get me wrong, both the Dixie Drive and STG Blvd interchanges were welcomed and needed improvements IMO, but the latest reconstruction of building a freeway-like interchange including an overpass at Snow Canyon/RedHills and Bluff seems a little over kill and definetely unnecessary.
UDOT really has it's greedy eyes on the St George-area with projects lined up in the near future, including a 'jug handle' interchange at Sunset and Bluff and a seemingly ridiculous project of removing the dual left-turn lanes on Bluff turning onto St George Blvd.
I'm all for planning and being ahead of the curve in the way of beating/preventing gridlock and bottlenecks, but in all actuality the area still is far from any real gridlock issue, and I find the full-function traffic light set up at the intersection of Snow Canyon and Bluff is just fine for today and well into the future. Afterall, I'm pretty sure they just upgraded those lights with new poles/arms, flashing yellow arrows and additional left-turn lights recently... all to just be taken out and replaced with an overpass??

Couldn't agree more. I live right there, near the Snow and Bluff intersection. I like the improvements and I like the two left turn lanes onto S.G. Blvd. going S. on Bluff. The coming changes will make residential life more difficult in terms of getting there from here and back again. The overpass impresses me as being an unwarranted expense just to avoid one intersection.

[GoOutsideAndPlay]

I'm not for doing things just to do things either. However, the one I'm the most excited about is the new bridge over the Virgin River at Mall Drive. I think that one will really make things more convenient for a lot of people. I think long-term, that was a good use of funds. I've also used the new Southern Parkway (Route 7) quite a bit since it opened. Very convenient, especially for getting to Hurricane/Zion. I've noticed a lot more people using it now than when if first opened.

The one I dislike most is the double roundabout at Exit 4 (Brigham Rd). That thing must have been designed by Stanley Kubrick. I always say: "Look kids - Big Ben, Parliment" as a hat tip to European Vacation. You can waste a tank of gas if you get stuck in the inner circle. Ha!

[kcoliver]

The one I dislike most is the double roundabout at Exit 4 (Brigham Rd). That thing must have been designed by Stanley Kubrick. I always say: "Look kids - Big Ben, Parliment" as a hat tip to European Vacation. You can waste a tank of gas if you get stuck in the inner circle. Ha! [/quote]

I love a small restaurant off Brigham Rd...but dealing with that stupid "roundabout" is more than I can take!

[karenSG]

Originally Posted by kcoliver

The one I dislike most is the double roundabout at Exit 4 (Brigham Rd). That thing must have been designed by Stanley Kubrick. I always say: "Look kids - Big Ben, Parliment" as a hat tip to European Vacation. You can waste a tank of gas if you get stuck in the inner circle. Ha!

I love a small restaurant off Brigham Rd...but dealing with that stupid "roundabout" is more than I can take![/quote]

That thing is diabolical! Leaving Walmart to get back home is nerve-wracking to me. I wonder if signs and lane markers could somehow be updated?

[tylerhaynes3]

I will never get how people don't understand the Brigham Rd roundabouts. I work at that Walmart and use these everyday with no thought process whatsoever. They are a real no brainer to me, and there's really nothing more they can do to improve that area as there are so many streets that converge together right there. I guess they could possibly permanently close one or two streets that connect to the west roundabout and revamp the entire interchange (again) all together and make it more like the nearby Dixie or Southern Pkwy exits...hence waste even more local dollars.

[karenSG]

Originally Posted by tylerhaynes3

I will never get how people don't understand the Brigham Rd roundabouts. I work at that Walmart and use these everyday with no thought process whatsoever. They are a real no brainer to me, and there's really nothing more they can do to improve that area as there are so many streets that converge together right there. I guess they could possibly permanently close one or two streets that connect to the west roundabout and revamp the entire interchange (again) all together and make it more like the nearby Dixie or Southern Pkwy exits...hence waste even more local dollars.

I agree that if I used it every day I'd be ok with it. It would be automatic. As a very infrequent user I try to memorize where to jump left and when to jump right so I don't get scraped off. A map to study would be great--it would hold still while I get a clear visual of all the options! Going to look for that right now!

[tylerhaynes3]

Wow, I'm def not alone in my thinking, check out an article at stgnews.com on the Bluff/Snow Canyon overpass.
Also, I like seeing the ideas some people had that the City should've built tunnels through both the east and west black hills making for SG Blvd to be a constant thoroughfare connecting Santa Clara with Washington and beyond, prior to development west of west black hill and east of the east hill. That would have indeed eliminated the present day grid issues, particularly east-west corridors.