Detours Ahead!

There will be a road closure of 820 North at the I-15 overpass from January 20-23, from 11:30 p.m. Friday through 5:30 a.m. Monday. Provo 820 North is scheduled to close to traffic at I-15 for demolition of the old I-15 bridge overhead. Jan. 23-26, 820 North will reopen to daytime traffic but will be closed nightly while crews complete demolition work. For safety, there will be no pedestrian or vehicle access under I-15 during these activities. UDOT says that residents should expect additional light, noise and vibration associated with this work during the day and at night. Motorists can use Provo Center Street or Orem 2000 South as an alternate route. 

Your Trip to the City Center

Customer Service is moving from the Provo City Power office to the City Center lobby. Remodeling started last week and will continue until early February. During that time, the public will need to use the east and south entrances to the building. Please keep that in mind as you come to meetings, etc. Also, council meetings (study and regular) during January will be held at the Provo School District office. There's more information about the Customer Service move on Mayor Curtis' blog here: http://provomayor.blogspot.com/2011/12/whats-happening-at-city-center.html.

Center Street Interchange is Open

UDOT has announced the reopening of the Provo Center Street Interchange at I-15.  If you want to preview the ins and outs of this new configuration before attempting to navigate it in your car, try out the animation found on youTube. 

Then try it out in person! Leave a comment to let everyone know what you think of the new roads. 

UDOT says that in the spring, crews will finish reconstructing the northbound I-15 on and off ramps at Center Street, as well as widening the freeway and placing new concrete pavement. So we can expect a few more short term closures at that time.

The Westside Connector

The expected increase of traffic to the Provo Airport and to new growth on the west side of Provo has motivated the City to consider construction of a connector road from the University Avenue exit of I-15, heading west  and north to the airport.  Click here to see a map.

Currently, the most common route to the airport, and the only reasonable route from points south of the Provo River, is on Center Street and then south on 3110 W (aka Lakeshore Drive).

The engineers are required to submit an Environmental Impact Statement and they have done so for four alternatives.  Public input will be received but only until November 30th (sorry I didn't get word out about this sooner).  You can get information about the Provo Westside Connector here and you can submit your feedback on the plan at that same website.

What's Up on Center Street?

If you are like me, you are continually surprised about what will be open or closed on Center Street near the Interstate Freeway. Well, here is the latest word:

o    Provo Center Street interchange reopening: As early as Nov. 20, the southbound off-ramp from I-15 to Provo Center Street and the Center Street flyover bridge are expect to reopen to traffic. Both directions of Center Street traffic will use the new bridge over the UPRR and UTA lines to travel between east and west Provo, as well as to access the northbound and southbound on-ramps. The reopening of all the movements at the interchange is weather dependent.

o    Provo Center Street construction: During the next several months, various construction activities will continue at the interchange. Drivers should expect periodic lane restrictions and nighttime road closures as work moves forward.

o    Provo Center Street to Independence Avenue access closed: The week of November 20, when the flyover reopens, the connection from Independence Avenue to eastbound Center Street is scheduled to close. Access from east Provo Center Street to Independence Avenue is currently closed while demolition occurs on the old Center Street viaduct and northbound on-ramp bridge. Motorists can access Independence Avenue from 1100 West or 500 North.

o    Provo Center Street animation: Take a preview drive of the new Provo Center Street interchange. This driver's-seat-view animation follows traffic as it navigates the different movements of the interchange. Provo Center Street Animation

o    Provo 1600 West intersection work: In early December, crews are scheduled to close the eastbound lanes at the intersection of 1600 West and Center Street for up to two nights from approximately 10 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. for installation of storm drain lines. Drivers can use 600 South and 820 North as alternate routes.

o    Draper Lane access closed: Through 2012, crews will be reconstructing the Draper Lane access. To connect to businesses in this area, drivers can use 900 West to 500 South. Signs and flaggers are in place to guide motorists. Alternate Routes

Downtown Developments

The exciting news about what will become of the fire-damaged Tabernacle is well known by now. You may also be aware that NuSkin has announced that it will build a second tower nearby.
Tonight the City Council will be hearing a request to remove the George Taylor Jr. home from the Historic Landmarks Registry so that it can be demolished and the land used to construct a low income housing project. This may affect the ways that the downtown area changes.
The public meeting by the Landmarks Commission is today. I apologize that I have given no advance notice but I have only just become aware of this.
You may also want to attend the City Council meeting this evening, where public input will be heard. It will provide you with more information about the project and what it will look like.

Center Street Closure

The Next Big Discussion: PROVO CITY'S INTERMODAL HUB AND DOWNTOWN

This post comes from Sherrie Hall-Everett.

On Tuesday, September 27th, at 5:30 pm, residents are invited to participate in a workshop at Provo City Hall (351 W. Center Street) to explore the future of the city's downtown area.

The workshop will focus on the intermodal hub and the downtown area between the Hub and Center Street. The Provo Intermodal Hub was selected as one of six sites in the region to do detailed planning work to encourage *transit-oriented development* (TOD), which is a mix of housing types, shops and office buildings within one-half mile of transit stops. For more information on the overall effort, which is getting national attention, please go to www.wasatchchoice2040.com.

Market research indicates that Utah County will add 200,000 new households by 2040 and that 25% (50,000) of those households will want to live in an "urban setting" within walking distance of shopping, jobs and transit. The workshop will give residents the opportunity to have a voice in transforming the area into a vibrant center which will give people new living choices consistent with market demand, revitalize an area close to downtown, enhance city revenues to keep taxes down, and provide a new gathering place. As the historical center for Utah County jobs, education, culture, etc., Provo has the opportunity to capture a larger share of the projected growth by transforming its downtown to capture more growth around future commuter rail and bus rapid transit lines that will be arriving in the next several years. These new transportation facilities, as well as Provo's existing downtown amenities, provide the opportunity for renewed economic and residential growth in the downtown.

RSVPs should be given to Mary at MDavies@envisionutah.org or (801) 303-1459. Residents are also invited to participate by taking a survey at www.provo.org starting on Tuesday.

Attend the New Recreation Center Groundbreaking

You are invited to attend the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Provo Recreation Center this Wednesday, August 24th, at 11 am. You will find it at 320 W 500 N, by the Veterans Memorial Pool.
You will have an opportunity to see the plans for the new center and meet those who are responsible for the plans and construction.  If you haven't already seen the drawings or heard about the new facility, you should definitely go. I think you will be pleased.
The park is close by; the weather should be nice; and light refreshments will be served! What more could you ask!