This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2008, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
WOODS CROSS - The Legacy Parkway rumbled to life Saturday, two days before Utah's newest roadway faces the ultimate test: the Monday morning commute.
Officials said they are counting on the $685 million, four-lane highway to make driving through Davis County during peak traffic periods less nightmarish. Even with FrontRunner trains commencing operations this spring, it isn't unusual for drivers to face at times a frustratingly slow crawl south into Salt Lake in the morning and another back north in the evening.
Gov. Jon Huntsman, who joined scores of city, county and state officials in christening the new roadway Saturday, said he's confident Legacy will be a powerful congestion reliever.
"This is going to take 30 percent of the traffic off of I-15, which is a big deal," Huntsman said, before hopping on a motorcycle and leading a motorcade through the roadway.
On Saturday, ordinary drivers finally got the chance to try out the new road under the watchful eye of highway patrol officers, who figured there was going to be a big learning curve for drivers using the parkway. What some drivers don't realize is that maximum speed on Legacy is 55 miles per hour compared with 65 miles per hour for Interstate 15.
That lower speed limit was among concessions made to appease opponents of the highway, along with "quiet" pavement and more open space.
The Legacy was first proposed by then-Gov. Mike Leavitt 12 years ago, but critics, worried about the road's impact on the environment and the wetlands, tried to sideswipe the project. After years of delays, a court settlement three years ago put construction of the roadway on the fast track, leading up to Saturday's opening.
Carlos Braceras, the agency's deputy director, said environmental studies are now being conducted on the next segment of Legacy, north of Farmington in Davis County and on into Weber County.
But for the time being, UDOT officials are basking in the opening of the first segment of the roadway and looking forward to the workweek's commutes.
"I can't wait for Monday morning," said John Njord, UDOT executive director.