The Legacy Parkway is a 11.5-mile (18.51 km) four-lane freeway[2] completely within Davis County in the northern part of the U.S. state of Utah that runs from Interstate 215 in North Salt Lake to Interstate 15 and US-89 in Farmington. Construction began in 2006 and was completed in 2008, with the freeway opening 13 September of that year. The highway was controversial in its building and was challenged in court several times before a compromise was met between the state and several environmental groups such as the Sierra Club.[3][4]
Route description
The highway begins at an interchange at I-215, allowing northbound motorists from the interstate to transfer onto Legacy Parkway and vice versa. From the interchange, the highway heads northerly through western Davis County before turning northeasterly and north again, intersecting with 500 South at a diamond interchange, which also provides a connection to Redwood Road. The freeway continues north before beginning a curve to the northeast in West Bountiful. Before reverting to its original northerly direction, the route intersects Parrish Lane at a diamond interchange. Past the intersection, the freeway parallels I-15 with Union Pacific and Utah Transit Authority (FrontRunner) railroad track in between. The highway reaches Farmington and terminates at a junction with I-15 and US-89.[5]
After a lawsuit that halted construction of the parkway over environmental concerns, the design of the road was re-envisioned to include extensive wetland protection west of the freeway and in the freeway median, a trail system, and numerous pedestrian overpasses and underpasses for ease of access to the trail system. Many of the architectural features were also specially-designed to give the freeway a more unique feel.[6]
The Utah Department of Transportation has already designated the route as State Route 67 and has signed the route with SR-67 shields,[7] but this has yet to be approved by the Utah State Legislature.[5]
History
The Parkway under construction
The Legacy Parkway is part of the larger Legacy Highway project, which has aspirations of running from Nephi in the south to Brigham City, with the Parkway being only a portion in between. Construction of the Legacy Parkway began in 2004 before it was forced to stop as a result of lawsuits over the completeness of the environmental impact statement.
On September 21, 2005, the State of Utah and the Sierra Club (acting on behalf of numerous groups opposing the Legacy Highway) officially signed a compromise regarding the Legacy Parkway. Some of the agreements reached include no billboards along the freeway, no trucks allowed on the freeway (excepting cases where they are used in response to an accident or there is construction on I-15), and a 55 mph (90 km/h) speed limit. These restrictions hold until 2020.
Construction of the Parkway resumed in March 2006 with limited construction activity and in December 2006 heavy construction began on the Parkway. Three contractors were hired to build the freeway; therefore, construction was divided into three segments: Segment one from I-215 in North Salt Lake to 500 South, segment two north to Glover Lane, and segment three north to I-15/US-89. The project reached the halfway point in October 2007.[3][4] The highway opened 13 September at a cost of $685 million.[8][9]
Exit list
The entire route is in Davis County.
References
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Major highways in the Salt Lake City area |
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