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Ogden residents could lose yard space if road project moves forward

Posted at 6:25 PM, Jun 10, 2014
and last updated 2014-06-10 20:29:34-04

OGDEN CITY, Utah -- Betty Adams has lived in her home on Harrison Boulevard for 38 years. On Tuesday afternoon Adams spent the afternoon weeding her yard. But she said if Ogden City widens Harrison Boulevard she might have a lot less space to take care of.

"Our concern is how far back how much property do they need and how it's going to affect us and everything," Adams said.

A $10 million project is in the works to widen Harrison Boulevard from 7th Street to the St. James Catholic Church a mile north.

"The main purpose of the project is to improve safety for the pedestrians also traveling in the area," said Justin Anderson, Ogden City's Engineer and Public Services Deputy Director.

An environmental statement shows the improvements include the addition of a center lane, street parking space, improved sidewalks and possibly a bike lane. But to make those improvements each home along the project area, many of which are historical properties, will be losing space.

"We don't stand in front of the way of progress -- if they're going to do something they're going to do it," Adams said.

While Adams is excited for the much needed improvements she's sad to see that two of her neighbor’s homes will be demolished to complete the project.

"That's never something you want to do with a project but at times it's something you have to do with. We want to be fair and reasonable," Anderson said.

The project is still in the design phase but construction is expected to start in the spring of 2016.