West Davis Highway Work Begins, Noise And Traffic Worry Some Residents
May 25, 2021, 5:38 PM | Updated: 9:24 pm
WEST LAYTON, Utah – After decades of planning and proposals, workers officially started on Utah’s biggest highway project. The 16-mile, four-lane divided West Davis Highway will extend from Farmington to West Point.
The Utah Department of Transportation kicked off the construction project during a news conference in west Layton Tuesday morning.
UDOT said it will reduce delays in western Davis County by 30%.
“With the demand on housing and with the growth it’ll not only help the new people coming in but those that exist. It’s a great, great day for Utah,” said Utah Senate president, Sen. Stuart Adams.
Not everyone is celebrating. Many residents whose homes back up to the new freeway are worried about losing their view and the extra noise and traffic the highway will bring.
“It is a little bittersweet. We are sad to lose some of the quietness in the area and the farm appeal,” said Nathan Allred. He owns a two-acre farmhouse on the west side of Layton. “It’s changing out here. A lot more homes are popping up and it’s becoming a lot more congested.”
Paul Battista is also worried. His view of open fields and mountains will be replaced by a highway.
“[The highway] is right in our face,” said Battista to KSL. “It’s going to change everything here.”
