A 15-year-old Skyridge student is recovering from a fractured wrist following an accident at the intersection of SR-92 and Center Street in Lehi, according to a September 29 report by the Lehi Free Press. The incident, which occurred three weeks prior to the report, has intensified local calls for a pedestrian walkway to protect students and residents.
Witness Tiffany Barker, a Lehi resident living near the intersection, stated the student was using an e-bike in a crosswalk when a truck turning right failed to see him. Barker noted that the teen was in pain on the ground until paramedics arrived. This specific intersection sees significant foot traffic from students attending Skyridge High School and Viewpoint Middle School, including ninth graders attending special classes at the high school.
Lehi City Council member Rachel Freeman expressed long-standing concerns regarding blind spots at the intersection. While SR-92 is not a Lehi City road, Freeman stated the city has been working on a design and attempting to secure funds for a bridge because engineers anticipated the area would be busy. So far, Lehi has secured approximately half of the necessary funding, and officials are waiting for the remaining half to be provided by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT).
The proposed pedestrian bridge is estimated to cost between $8 million and $9 million. Boyde Humpherys, UDOT's region three deputy director, said the project currently ranks among the top three priorities for the department's prioritization list. John Gleason, UDOT's director of public relations, stated that UDOT is working on solutions to ensure safety following recent changes to school boundaries in the area.
Council member Michelle Stallings suggested the project could be a partnership, noting that a previous pedestrian bridge was a joint effort between Lehi, UDOT, and UTA that utilized federal grants. Local residents, including Barker, continue to advocate for the bridge to prevent further injuries.
