City Engineer Nick Jones said the resolution - it amends the city's transportation and general plans - will make west-side development easier by identifying a right of way before someone tries to build on it.

“We have a lot of development taking place on the west side,” Jones said.

Darrell L. Cook, executive director of Mountainland Association of Governments (MAG), said the proposed road, which is several years away from becoming a reality, would be good not just for Provo but the entire county. It would provide an alternative to I-15 when it is rebuilt within the next three decades.

The resolution, passed Tuesday night, comes weeks after an Orem committee recommended reclassifying Geneva Road as a seven-lane highway. That designation would tie it to Utah Department of Transportation plans to widen the road.

Jones said UDOT, four years ago, conducted an environmental study on widening Provo's stretch of Geneva Road. It found such a project would interfere with historic homes near the road. The Provo City Council's favored alternative would preserve the historic homes while facilitating west-side development.

Cook said MAG, Utah Valley's regional planning agency, supports Provo's plans. MAG wants additional north-south connectors to provide alternatives to the freeway.

“It's all part of the regional effort,” Cook said.

Provo City Councilwoman Barbara Sandstrom said there has to be meetings with affected residents before work begins. Jones, the city engineer, said the project is years away from completion.

At this point, the project is just part of the master plan. Jones said segments of the new road will likely be completed as west-side development progresses.

dmeyers@sltrib.com