I’ve been following with interest the public debate in this paper’s opinion section concerning the proposal to widen the upper Mill Creek Canyon road. I am strongly in favor of Melanie Topham’s suggestion to cancel the road widening and instead make the upper canyon winter closure year-round with access allowed via foot and bike.
In his July 13 opinion, Michael Jenkins opposes this idea. One reason he gives is the road’s historic status (constructed in 1848 by Mormon pioneers). I’m sorry, but this strikes me as very reminiscent of Phil Lyman and his Recapture Canyon debacle and the idea of “once a road, always a road.” I believe we can think a bit more outside the box and see the myriad benefits (for people and ecosystem) of reclaiming roads and turning them into trails.
As far as the question of access goes, Topham’s suggestion of stationing electric bikes at the gate with attached bins for transporting children, dogs, picnic baskets, etc., seems brilliant. We should include adaptive bikes to accommodate people with different mobility needs. As for the mountain bikers, they will just need to plan on riding an extra few miles to get to the dirt trail (I do it in the winter when I ski tour past the winter gate to access Alexander Basin).
And the cabin owners? Look at Porter Fork just down the road. It’s gated year-round, people have to hike the road a few miles to get to the trailhead, but they still do it, and the cabin owners have a key that allows them to drive through. Simple. That solution also works for emergency access (fire fighters, etc.).
It’s time we start thinking beyond cars. Especially in this beautiful canyon where so many of us come to escape the fast pace (and traffic) of the city.
Katherine Pioli, Salt Lake City
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