Capt. Klint Anderson, Weber County Sheriff's Department spokesman, said officials are concerned about the potential for more accidents if the resort becomes a year-round destination, but the department can't do much about it other than enforce speed limits and snow tire requirements.
"It's a steeper, more treacherous road than most, and you don't typically get that kind of equipment -- trucks with heavy equipment and trailers," he said.
During the winter months, there are mostly SUVs with skiers, he said, and there are potential problems with heavier vehicles traveling the road.
Powder Mountain spokeswoman Carolyn Daniels said the road is a state highway, so improvements or changes would be up to the Utah Department of Transportation.
She said she isn't the right person to comment on what steps the resort would take to make traveling safer for guests, but the appropriate person was unavailable.
Interpreted, Powder Mountain has NO intention of spending a dime to make the road safe. Traffic deaths are just a cost of doing business.
Weber County Deputy Eric Fryer said in his report on the August accident that he stopped to assist vehicles having brake problems.
He said about 20 vehicles had stopped along the road to let their brakes cool down.
It was at that point he had to jump out of the way, because the 40-foot motor home pulling a 24-foot trailer was speeding down the road.
Fryer said all of its tires were smoking and it looked like the brakes had gone out.
Four other witnesses saw the RV's brakes smoking as the vehicle flew out of control down the road at speeds estimated at anywhere from 40 to 70 mph.
Powder Mountain's media nightmare continues and they still want a community the size of Brigham City on top of the mountain. It makes sense to us.
6 comments:
You can bet that Powder Mountain will not try to make any changes to improve safety. UDOT already testified to the OVPC that the road cannot be modified for several physical reasons.
It is apparent that Powder Mountain does not wish to do anything other than a few minor cosmetic items to address a very dangerous road. Their attitude is drivers Beware, you are on your own!
Powder Mountain's mealymouthpiece, Carolyn Daniels, with her well-practiced West Virginia accent, left out a part: the "appropriate person" to outline PM's plans for safety on its road isn't available because that person does not exist.
When are we all going to get it? PM does not care about anything other than getting vastly unsupportable zoning and then selling that zoning to an unsuspecting buyer, foreign or domestic, at a HUGE profit.
It DOES NOT CARE about:
-Deaths and injuries on its road
-Civil rights of its captives
-Traffic burden on the Valley
-Water quality and availability
-Whether its "town" is sustainable
-Paying its fair tax share
-Air quality degradation
-What happens after it bails
-Ogden Valley or Weber County
-Anything, really, except PROFIT
Isn't it interesting how there is no one authorized to speak on behalf of Powder Mountain except the spokespersons and they know nothing. Does anyone remember their PR firm who called themselves the project managers during the fiasco with the county when they were originally attempting a massive rezone? All young chicks who knew nothing but passed themselves off as project managers.
The decision makers were never to be seen nor found. An interesting trend, indeed.
One item that has been ignored regarding this event at Powder Mtn. is the total cost to the tax payers of all the life-flights and additional police force required to handle this event -- anyone care (besides me!) ???
You guys are going to hate this (and I suspect it will be removed for not falling along "the" party line) but like Carolyn said, It's a state highway and improvements should come through UDOT. I agree.
Do you think Snowbasin paid anything for the access road at the top of Trappers (or even anything toward Trappers Loop itself)? I doubt it.
Space, the state is responsible to maintain the road for safety or control the amount of traffic to minimize the danger.
If the road cannot be improved, a new road will have to be built, until then no large resort or housing additions should go up there. Maybe a nice large tax assessment will be put out for all of the Weber County taxpayers to fund the road for the big development up there. If the state wants to pay for it, fine, but no new development of the scope wanted by Powder Mountain should be constructed until the new road is in.
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