STOP THE BRIDGE

The proposed private bridge bisecting our public treasure, Utah Lake, is a very bad idea that is being evaluated by an inadequate, flawed process. The bridge is neither needed nor wanted. It’s designed to benefit a few developers at the expense of our health, our well-being and the lake’s viability. The proposed seven-mile-long concrete structure will damage the lake’s ecology, pollute its waters, add congestion and air pollution and create a permanent ugly scar on our valley. It will foster urban sprawl on the west side by replacing dwindling open spaces and natural areas with pavement, cars, crowding and fowl air that will in turn damage the valley’s economy by making it harder to attract and keep families and business concerned with their health and quality of life. Much better alternatives exist to relieve traffic congestion and prevent urban sprawl. Utah Lake has been exploited and treated as a sewer for too long. It’s time to stop the exploitation and pollution. It’s time to start respecting the lake and helping restore it to a natural healthy state, for the enjoyment and betterment of all Utahns, for now and for all generations. No thanks. No bridge.
middle photo of Utah Lake © JNWestwater

• not needed -- the bridge is not needed and better alternatives exist. The population on the west side of the lake is at the north end where two major new no-toll thoroughfares (Pioneer Crossing and the Mountainview Corridor) are being constructed to relieve congestion. With these new thoroughfares, auto travel from Eagle Mountain, Cedar Valley and much of Saratoga Springs to the Orem area will be shorter, safer, and cheaper than using the proposed toll bridge.

• approval process is flawed -- the current process is not-impartial and is beyond the capability of the FFSL. The FFSL’s impartiality has been compromised since key FFSL employees serve at the pleasure of the Governor and since the Governor has indicated he is in favor of the project if the FFSL approves it. The state does not have the resources to conduct a thorough, rigorous impartial study of the consequences of this massive environmental-impacting project.

• unknown impact -- because no NEPA level EIS is being done, the information to make sound judgements on the impact of the bridge proposal will not be available. The Utah public is being asked to buy a “pig in a poke.”

• critical habitat -- Utah lake is a critical habitat for millions of migratory birds and the endangered June Sucker, found nowhere else in the world. A bridge across Utah Lake would harm this critical habitat.

• exploitative -- bridge development is really about developing the west side side of Utah Lake, exploiting a pubic treasure for private gain of the few.

• murky finances -- the developer refuses to identify the “offshore interests” he claims are providing the funds to construct the bridge.

• expensive to taxpayers -- the public will be forced to pay for the improvements to highway 68 on the west side necessitated by the proposed bridge.

• permanent ugly scar -- the bridge will permanently scare and despoil the beauty of the lake. The bridge is not a piece of beautiful architectural sculpture, it’s a straight six-lane seven mile long concrete toll bridge.

• toxic sediments stirred up -- the bridge will harm the ecology of the lake--construction will stir up toxic sediments (principally phosphorus) that will migrate to other parts of the lake causing unknown damage to aquatic life.

• toxic runoff -- runoff from the bridge will add pollution to the lake’s waters and harm fish, birds and aquatic life in the lake.

• bridge noise, light and air pollution -- auto exhaust, traffic noise and nighttime illumination will add to air, noise and light pollution.

• urban sprawl air pollution -- the urban sprawl this bridge is designed to facilitate on the west side will significantly increase vehicular air pollution as more and more automobile-dependent communities are built.

• loss of federal funds for highways, etc. -- as air pollution increases, Utah County will risk loosing all federal funding since it does not now comply with the US Clean Air Act, and more cars will make the air quality even worse, not better.

• more congestion -- increased traffic across the bridge would add to the traffic congestion problem already occurring on the east side of Utah Lake.

• added stress to our water supply -- the urban sprawl developments on the west side that would be facilitated by this bridge will place even more stress on our valley’s limited supply of fresh water for residential use.

• damage to quality of life, harm to the economy and property values -- the value of new and existing homes will decrease as the very things that made living here so attractive are lost. by adding to the accelerating the rate of development in the county--converting open spaces to homes, pavement and pollution-generating vehicles further degrades the natural beauty of this area and its air quality--making it less and less attractive to new residents and new businesses. Who will want to live in a congested bowl filled with toxic brown smog?

• damage to Native American sites -- bridge construction may damage ancient Native American village and burial sites.

• harming what is sacred to Native Americans -- Native Americans most likely held and may still hold Utah Lake to be spiritually sacred to them. To bisect it with a massive concrete highway bridge most likely would be seen as violating what they hold to be sacred. They are an earth based belief system where the earth is their mother and the sky their father. It is deemed disrespectful to exploit it.

• not for sale -- Utah Lake should be protected and helped to become more naturally healthful. It is a natural, public treasure that should not be sold to the highest private bidder. “Utah Lake is Not For Sale.”

• destroying the peace and quiet of the lake -- A massive concrete structure loaded with noisy vehicles and headlights at night will significantly diminish the peaceful, quiet of the lake now enjoyed by many fishermen, sailers, boaters, duck hunters and shore-side anglers, and by the many people of present and future generations that find pleasure and inspiration in the uninterrupted beauty of the lake.

• better alternatives -- much better alternatives exist to the urban sprawl this bridge is intended to spawn. Rather than paving over more and more open spaces, natural areas, wildlife habitat and agricultural areas, why not create parkland preserves and green spaces while clustering population in existing developed areas and connecting them with public transit that is much more fuel efficient and much less polluting. And by having people live near their jobs, services, schools and shopping they become less car dependent and what’s left of the valley’s beauty can remain for present and future generations to enjoy.