Geneva Road, which parallels the west side of Interstate 15 from Pleasant Grove to Provo, could double in size when all the dust settles.

For now, Utah Department of Transportation officials want the public to know they soon will resume an environmental study that was shelved almost five years ago.

"It's important for us to speak with residents, commuters and business owners about the future of Geneva Road," Phil Huff, UDOT project manager, said in a news release.

Transportation chiefs are looking at several options to improve the quickly congesting corridor: expansion to five lanes or more and a possible road branching off Geneva to the south.

Provo leaders have said they would like to see the break-off road head directly south and link up with the city's airport.

The study will take two years and any major construction is at least three years out, said UDOT spokesman Geoff Dupaix.

"There are a lot of impacts to historical buildings along Geneva Road, so we've been asked to look at other routes that have less impact," Dupaix said Monday. "We really have to run the gamut to make sure we identify any of these possible impacts to the communities and surrounding environment."

UDOT initially looked at Geneva improvements in 2001 and 2002, but had to cut the study short when funding dried up.

That study resulted in approval of an expansion of the Geneva bridge over the Provo River - which is now being built.

Arvin Hullinger, who runs an animal clinic at 1078 N. Geneva Road in Provo, said traffic has steadily increased on the road.

"It seems like people know that if there's a wreck on the interstate, they come off and go up [Geneva]," Hullinger said. "I've seen the traffic so heavy there that it's just stop and go for miles and miles."

The veterinarian, who plans to attend tonight's open house on the topic, would like to see Geneva extended straight south from Provo's Center Street to Utah Lake and then connected with Springville's northernmost I-15 interchange.

The 6 p.m. open house at Vineyard Elementary will include a short presentation about existing traffic data and a chance to talk with project-team members.

The actual study area stretches from Provo's Center Street interchange to Pleasant Grove's State Street.

Final recommendations are expected by the end of 2008.

toddh@sltrib.com

Open house

The public is invited to a Geneva Road open house today at 6 p.m. at Vineyard Elementary School, 620 E. Holdaway Road, Vineyard.