Font ResizeOriginal projections had estimated that construction on 10 miles of Mountain View Corridor in Salt Lake County's southern portion would start in spring 2010.
Because of design changes and lower construction costs, an extra five miles will be added to the west-side project -- extending the roadway from Redwood Road in Bluffdale to 5400 South.
"This is a pretty big deal," said Teri Newell, Mountain View project manager for the Utah Department of Transportation.
There is still a 300-person team working on several aspects of the design and building the first phase of the corridor, she said, but its estimated price tag is $670 million.
Once completed, the initial phase would give commuters a two-lane frontage road on each side of the future Mountain View freeway.
That freeway would be built in two other phases, perhaps beginning in 2015 until it's finished around 2025, Newell said.
Much of that time line and construction depends on how need arises for the larger roadway, as well as available money.
The corridor travels roughly through the 6200 West area, but moves east and farther west in some parts. Ultimately, the road would stretch from Interstate 80 in Salt Lake City to Main Street in Lehi.
Construction of a 3-mile connector between Interstate 15 and Redwood Road in Utah County will begin in December.
That corridor, 2100 North in Lehi, would later serve to send cars toward the future
For the remaining 8.5 miles of Mountain View in Salt Lake County -- from 5400 South to I-80 -- Newell said there is still a need to preserve much of the right of way for the corridor.
That portion of the project still needs funding and a final design.
The Utah Legislature designated funding for the section that will begin construction next spring and is expected to take three years to finish, Newell said.
