A new road will make it easier for people to reach Valley Fair Mall in West Valley City.

There's never been an east side entrance to the 40-year-old mall, so drivers have to drive to the other side to enter from 2700 West.

Now, the Utah Department of Transportation is designing a new frontage road along the east side of the mall and Costco as part of the 3500 South and Interstate 215 project.

The $9 million project is scheduled to start construction in spring 2011 and be completed within six months. The proposed southbound road will run from 3500 South to 3800 South, UDOT officials said.

The project's goal is to relieve traffic congestion around I-215 and 3500 South, specifically during rush hour when cars back up to the freeway, UDOT project manager Peter Tang said.

Nicole Cottle, West Valley City community and economic-development director, said the city raised the idea for the road in 2007 due to increased traffic, the redevelopment of the area and the mall expansion to double its size. The city then urged lawmakers to provide state funding for the project, she said.

Some 150,000 drivers travel through the I-215 and 3500 South area, and they need more options, Cottle said. The West Valley TRAX line that will run along 2700 West is slated to be completed sometime before 2015. "It provides a good transportation backbone to the area," she said. "We're glad it's finally here. We're happy to have it."

Ben Hunter is organizing the Westshire North Neighborhood Watch, a group for the residents just south of the mall. Hunter, who received a flier about the project, said he hasn't heard any complaints from residents yet, and he thinks it's going to be "great."

Most people in the neighborhood have to travel east or west and then south to get home. Now, they'll be able to use the frontage road, Hunter said.

"It's going to be very beneficial," he said.

Gary Hall, vice president of Satterfield Helm Management, a Sandy-based developer that bought the mall three years ago, agreed. It's challenging for people to exit I-215 southbound, move over six lanes of traffic and make a left on 2700 West to get to the mall, he said.

The new road will give mall customers a safer, convenient route to get to the mall, Hall said. "We're very positive about it."

UDOT recently has mailed 300 fliers and knocked on 230 doors to talk to residents about the plan, said UDOT spokesman Adan Carrillo.

No residential property needed to be purchased for the project, he said.

jsanchez@sltrib.com —

Coming in 2011

I The Utah Department of Transportation will accept comments on the 3500 South and I-215 project until Sept. 20 at www.surveymonkey.com/s/I-215ramps.

See a map of major improvements, E2. Details at www.udot.utah.gov/main.