Local official details Westwood sidewalk access project status

By Sun Advocate

Providing sidewalk access from Creekview Plaza to Westwood subdivision appears to be in the offing later in the year. In January, Price and Carbon County jointly applied for project funding from the Utah Department of Transportation. However, UDOT turned down the Westwood Boulevard bicycle-pedestrian access project.
The state agency indicated that “it was necessary to eliminate many viable projects” due to a shortage of funds.
However, county and city officials persevered and recontacted the agency, explaining that the project was one of safety as much as convenience.
Late last winter, John Quick, an engineer from UDOT revisited the project by coming to Carbon County and physically examining the site.
“Once he looked at it, he agreed that it should be a priority,” said Carbon County Commissioner Bill Krompel on Monday. “It was then that we worked out a plan to do the project.”
One of the project’s initial phases was to put in a traffic light at the eastbound exit from the bypass road. Installation was completed earlier in the year.
Currently, the design is being done on the sidewalk system. The system will connect the shopping center and provide access to Price’s sidewalks into town and Westwood
According to Krompel, the project will be completed in two phases.
“The first part, which we would like to see completed this year, will link the shopping center with the Holiday Inn area,” pointed out the county commissioner. “And then next year, the intersection of Fairgrounds Road and Westwood Boulevard will be realigned and the sidewalk will travel the rest of the way from the motel area to Westwood.”
Funding for the two sections of the project are dependent on matches for the grants.
Krompel estimated that the total project will cost about $550,000, with the county government kicking in 20 percent of the funding to complete the sidewalk system.
“We have already approached the recreation and transportation board for money from the mineral lease funds for the match,” pointed out Krompel.
UDOT’s money for half of the project completed in 2004 will come from the safe sidewalks fund.
Next year, the transportation department money will come from enhancement funds.