Jordan's Extra Credit

* For all reading Lundi and I's blog this post will be totally random and not related to the happenings in our lives. Sad I know as Im sure you all want to be seeing our new little man. Lundi will post something fun soon Im sure! This is just for a school assignment I needed to do this semester.

Traveling from Orem to the west side of the valley might get easier
People have been talking about a bridge across Utah Lake for years but frustrated commuters may have something to look forward to.

The Utah Transportation Commission was just given the role to decide whether to allow a bridge across Utah lake, from Orem To Saratoga Springs.

A private group called Utah Crossing Inc., hopes they will get approval to begin a $600 million dollar project. A venture they hope will turn a profit by making it a toll bridge and charging each vehicle a few dollars to make the trip.

While this project would be private it does need state approval to build a structure on state owned land.

"This bridge would be the first main corridor going east and west in the valley, with the rate of growth in the county it is not a matter of if it is needed but a matter of when." Said Steve Gashon, County Commissioners office.

The six mile bridge would connect on the east side with 800 North in Orem and the west side would connect with Pelican Point in Saratoga Springs.

"I live in Saratoga Springs and have to leave for school forty five minutes early every day to make it to class on time, this bridge would cut my commute down to fifteen," said Jason Grayland, Utah Valley University Student.

The proposed bridge would be raised 35 feet above water and then climb to fifty feet in some areas to accommodate boats with large masts.
Utah Crossing Inc., hired Figg Engineering to design the lake bridge, Figg has designed and built bridges all over the country including the new freeway replacement bridge in Minneapolis after the old one collapsed a few years ago.

"Anything to help ease the traffic on the congested roads and highways in the valley, driving in Utah County today is worse than Salt Lake County, this bridge would finally give people more than one way to get from the east side of the valley to the west," Said Lehi resident Boyd Worthington.