Let's Talk: South Bench Drive Part 6; Other Suggestions

This is part 6 of an 8 part series. 

See part 1: What is it?,

 Part 2: How did it get on the general plan? 

Part 3: How far in development is it? 

Part 4: When will it happen? and 

Part 5: Those in favor and those against.

So hopefully by now you have a better understanding of this road.  It can be pretty confusing.  If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me and I will do my best to answer them for you.  But today's question is of great importance....what are other suggestions?

As easy as it would seem to just say 'no' to this road in it's entirety, we do have to recognize at least one of the initial reasonings for putting this road on our general plan was to address future traffic concerns and easing congestion in the town, particularly on 475 East and South Weber Drive.

You can see one of my suggestion in this blog post Taking A Stab At Other Options where my concerns about the possible inaccuracies about the Horrock's study as well as another options for the alignment of South Bench Drive is presented.  As with any suggestions, it will come with other pros and cons.  But I think brainstorming other ideas is really what helps us come to a better solution for all.

One suggestion is to focus on connection within South Weber instead of corridors.  This means that we would work on connecting existing roads to each other.  This is actually proposed under our general plan already.  Connecting the canyon drives throughout the city as well as a connection from the original South Bench Drive (behind the elementary) to 7500 S (a current subdivision) is just two examples.  These roads could still be residential only, but it would provide traffic that currently only has the option to use South Weber Drive to use back roads instead.   The concerns would be that it would still mean South Weber Drive would be taking the brunt of most through traffic.

Another suggestion is to use a passive route to Layton, pending that it can be done safely and make this route be a toll road.  All the income generated from this toll road would go directly to South Weber.  The route of this connection would need to be re-examined.  Further research on whether the road would cost more than the potential of income from tolls would need to be examined as well.  

Yet another suggestion would be to just simply connect 1900 East only, and make it a residential road for mainly South Weber traffic.  Some concerns here would be the slope of 1900 E and the associated safety. Also, 1900 E is a residential area.  A road to Layton here would add a great deal of traffic to 1900 E which already has issues with speeding due to the steep bluff at approximately 7600 S. 

What other suggestions do you have?  The more ideas we get flowing, the better solution we can find! 

#SWmorethan20