UDOT Moves Ahead with Controversial Gondola Plans

Concept photo of the prospective tram in Little Cottonwood Canyon | Utah Department of Transportation photo.

There has been a lot of contention between the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and residents of the Salt Lake City area regarding UDOT’s plans to construct a multimillion-dollar 3S gondola up Little Cottonwood Canyon. After conducting a multi-year environmental impact study which considered roadway widening, enhanced bus service, rail and two different gondola options. The State of Utah has selected a 3S gondola as the winning alternative for Little Cottonwood Canyon mobility. UDOT received and analyzed some 50,000 public comments in the lead up to its decision.

The four prospective plans for the project that examined in the environmental impact study | Utah Department of Transportation photo.

As of yesterday morning, the environmental impact statement for this project has been finalized and issued, meaning UDOT has been given the go ahead to move forward in the multi-phase infrastructure development plan.

Planned phases and prospective timeline for the project | Utah Department of Transportation photo.

In tandem with this announcement, UDOT posted two videos to their YouTube channel in which director and project supervisor Josh Van Jura explains in detail what this project aims to accomplish, and the phases in which the project will be completed. In the first of two videos, Van Dura explains that the aim of this project is to “improve transportation related safety, reliability, and mobility on SR 210 [the two-lane highway that runs from the mouth of the canyon in Salt Lake up to the Alta-Snowbird ski areas] while meeting the needs of the environment and preserving the values of the Wasatch Mountains”. For more information, check out these posts from The Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake local blog Liftblog, and the two videos shared by UDOT and Josh Van Dura.

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