Alternatives Selected for Detailed Analysis

Alternatives within the “turquoise alternative corridor” were determined to be both feasible and practical, and advanced for further consideration. Two potential roadway alignments were developed within this corridor:

• North Alignment Build Alternative
• South Alignment Build Alternative

Both the North Alignment and South Alignment Build Alternatives tie into the University Avenue Interstate 15 interchange on the east, and provide connectivity to 3110 West and Mike Jense Parkway on the west. The typical cross-section envisioned for the build alignments includes two travel lanes in each direction, a center turn lane, and a trail.

[ Alternatives Selected for Detailed Analysis 6.6 MB ]

A “No Build” Alternative, required to be evaluated as part of the National Environmental Policy Act process, is used as a baseline for comparing the impacts of the build alternatives.

[ Newsletter #3: Alternatives 11 MB ]

Alternatives Development

Provo community representatives – in conjunction with the project team, federal and state agencies, and local government – identified more than 30 potential alternatives to address the transportation and community needs within the study area. This initial set of alternatives went through a “screening” process to narrow down the alternatives based on the needs of the project area.

[ Initial Alternatives Open House Handout 91 kb ]

Six potential alternative corridors remained after the initial screening. These corridors were reviewed by the public at an open house in May 2008. Issues and concerns identified by the community were addressed in additional screening, which was based on engineering feasibility and design practicality. The project team developed two potential roadway alignments (North Alignment and South Alignment Build Alternatives) within the “turquoise alternative corridor”, which was determined to be both feasible and practical.

[ Initial Alternatives Map 75 kb ]

• The Purple, Red, and Blue alternatives were determined to be impractical due to the number of residential and commercial relocations required to complete an arterial roadway within these corridors.
  
  
• The Turquoise alternative was determined to be feasible from an engineering standpoint as well as practical because it would not require relocations and would have only moderate impacts to available commercial space. The Turquoise alternative was advanced for further consideration.
  
  
• Various designs of the eastern project termini for the Orange Alternative were attempted. While feasible designs were identified from an engineering standpoint, all of these designs were determined to be impractical due to the scale of commercial impact they would have.
  
  
• The Green alternative was determined to be infeasible due to the length and relative cost of roadway on structure that would be required.