River
Heights plans winter closure of boulevard
By Diane
Denning
September 11, 2001 | RIVER HEIGHTS -- The City Council
met Tuesday night and discussed plans for closing River
Heights Boulevard from the first part of November to
the beginning of March.
River Heights Boulevard is a one-way street that heads
west out of River Heights and connects with Country
Road, more commonly known as 380 East. The council worries
about residents traveling down this road in the winter
because of how steep it is, and also because only a
guardrail separates the road and the Logan River many
feet below.
Kent Parker, the public works supervisor, said, "That's
the only place we have had real accidents in the city."
The council wants to close the road in hopes to reduce
the amounts of accidents from distracted drivers as
well as people affected due to the winter road conditions.
"This road is so dangerous in the winter," Mayor Bill
Baker said.
Because of its danger it is the first road in the
city to be plowed after a snow storm. But, plowing the
road is dangerous as well. The snow plows have to plow
it in the opposite direction of the one-way street.
They do this in case the truck starts to slide down
the road, so the salt they dropped behind them will
help stop the truck. This creates a hazard for residents
driving down the street, not knowing a snow plow is
coming in the opposite direction.
The council is going to think about the best way to
go about shutting this road for those winter months
and effectively notifying citizens of its closure. The
final decision will be made at a later meeting.
The council members also discussed changes taking
place in Heber Olson Park. Councilman Blake Wright gave
an update on the new public restrooms they are building
next to Ryan's Park. Wright said they poured the floor
and the walls are scheduled to be put up in about a
week. He said if everything goes as scheduled they will
be finished on Oct. 17.
The city is also planning on placing three outdoor
cameras in the park to increase the park surveillance.
They want to have these installed before the winter.
"These cameras will monitor what is going on in the
park at night," Baker said. He wants to start enforcing
the city curfew more effectively once the cameras are
in and hopes they will help cut down on vandalism.
NW
MS |
