The prospect of a six- to eight-lane freeway on 5800 West spewing copious particulate matter into proximity of children attending five elementary schools - Hillside, Whittier, Carl Sandberg, West Valley and Hunter - as well as Hunter High and Hunter Jr. High, alarms many parents.

"For children around this area, they wouldn't just be in and out of it," said Hunter Council PTA president Linda Hansen, waving her arm across a large swath of Hillside's playground, where the Mountainview Corridor will be built. "With all the schools that would be near the freeway feeding students into Hunter High, they'd be around it for up to 13 years of their lives, possibly. The noise and pollution will be intense."

Members of the Granite School Board will weigh in on the issue at 7 p.m. tonight, when they consider a resolution encouraging UDOT to develop an alternative route to 5800 West.

Anesthesiologist Brian Moench, president of Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, warned Granite School Board members during a meeting last month of the potential adverse health effects of the proposed freeway. Moench said the developing lungs of children are more vulnerable to high-particulate matter, resulting in higher rates of childhood leukemia, cancer and respiratory problems.

"If you're going to have children go to school next to a freeway, you might as well give them this to play on," Moench said, showing board members a large photo display of a child sliding down an oversize cheese grater.

UDOT officials say West Valley City's exploding population, which will double by 2030, needs more freeway space. An alternative road site - 7200 West - was considered, but freeway construction along that route would have affected more wetlands and relocated more homes. West Valley City has already passed a resolution in favor of construction, with Mayor Dennis J. Nordfelt saying the freeway's potential to move cars off slower-moving roads will improve air quality, not worsen it.

"Anytime you can alleviate congestion, you improve air quality," he said.

Teri Newell, UDOT project manager for the corridor, said the Environmental Protection Agency and Federal Highway Administration are conducting studies to determine just how much the project will impact children's health. Although there are no EPA regulations regarding construction of freeways next to schools, the project "will meet or exceed all state and federal requirements for air quality," Newell said.

bfulton@sltrib.com