Steep
section of River Heights Blvd. will be closed for the
winter, council decides
By Diane
Denning
November 13, 2008 | RIVER HEIGHTS -- The City Council
unanimously voted to close part of River Heights Boulevard
from Nov. 15 to March 15. The road will be closed from
400 East Street to 434 East Street. This part of the
road is a one-way street that meets up with Country
Road, also known as 380 East in Logan.
Mayor Bill Baker said the road is dangerous in the
winter because of its narrowness and steep incline,
the difficulty of plowing it when it snows, and because
garbage trucks drive up the road in the wrong direction.
"The road is 16 feet wide, and a plow is 9 feet wide,"
Public Works Supervisor Kent Parker said. "Part of the
road is breaking off at one point as well. When it snows
I don't dare plow down there. If my plow gets loose,
there is no way of stopping it."
Some council members weren't happy with the idea of
closing a road for such a long amount of time, but realized
the importance of the road being closed.
"I hate to see any road closed, but I can see the
dangers," said Councilwoman Francine Davis. "I can see
the value of closing it in the winter for people's safety."
Mayor Baker said some people drive down River Heights
Boulevard at high rates of speed when it snows, while
other residents avoid this road entirely.
"In the winter most people don't want to drive down
this road," Parker said. "They are too scared."
Councilman Blake Wright did not fully agree with closing
the road from certain dates. "I'd like to see the road
closed when it snows, not from one date to the next,"
Wright said.
Parker explained closing the road just when it snows
would be too much work and wouldn't be as successful
at keep residents off it. In a snow storm, even if he
plows it, the road gets covered with snow again very
quickly.
"I am against leaving this road open," Parker said.
The council agreed they will place barricades along
River Heights Boulevard to warn residents of the closed
road. A half barricade that says "road closed to through
traffic" will be placed at 500 East. One full barricade
will be placed at 400 East and another one at the bottom
at 434 East, both saying "road closed."
The council will evaluate how effective this closure
is this winter and if necessary readdress the issue
next year.
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