OPINION — The widening and roundabouts of Old Dixie Highway 91 through Ivins pose a threat to endangered animal and plant life.
You’ve written about the road and the Gila monster, why not write about this threat? This is what I wrote about it to my government officials.
Nov. 17, 2022: Yesterday I drove west on Old Dixie Highway 91 from 400 West in Ivins. No waiting was needed to turn right onto the 2 lane highway.
Later in the day, I drove back from the west the same way, turning in on 400 West to go back to Center Street. I didn’t have to wait to make the left-hand turn.
Last week I drove from my house on Center Street in Ivins to 400 West and then across Old Dixie Highway 91 to Red Mountain Tire and Service. No waiting was required to cross the highway. I crossed the road just fine and returned the same way, a straight drive not hindered by traffic or a roundabout.
I’ve learned from some of the farmers and ranchers on the north side of the highway between 400 West and 600 West that the government of Ivins wants to construct a five-lane highway with a roundabout at each intersection.
This is a very bad idea.
It’s not needed now or in the future. It is a waste of money. This would destroy the character of the old highway that the Washington County Commission has designated as Old Dixie Highway 91. It would cause traffic obstruction on the old highway, two lanes to the east going to five at 400 west and back to two at 600 west.
This part of southwestern Utah is the habitat of several endangered species including the desert tortoise and the Gila monster, both of which live just east of 400 west Ivins south of Highway 91 and west of 600 west Ivins on both sides of the highway and south on Petroglyph Hill-Land Hill.
The Gila monster is the official Utah state reptile. Already endangered, this species doesn’t need to be subjected to a massive unneeded highway, the distance of which is absurdly short.
It would sure be nice if the town government would use some common sense and not waste taxpayers’ monies on such an irrational project.
Submitted by JAY BEACHAM, Ivins.
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