Submit your comments to the BLM to stop the Northern Corridor Highway
Hello John ,
Last Friday, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that it is reassessing a right-of-way application from the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) for the proposed four-lane Northern Corridor Highway through Red Cliffs National Conservation Area. The BLM is currently accepting comments until Nov 3rd on the right-of-way application. Last December, this highway was rejected after an environmental review found severe and unavoidable harms to recreation, cultural resources, and tortoise habitats.
In a new Environmental Assessment, the BLM now says the Northern Corridor Highway is its preferred option. It points to new analysis from UDOT showing that the previous option, the Red Hills Parkway Expressway, has major technical and cost challenges.
Washington County’s population has grown fast—a little over 2% each year since 2010—putting more pressure on local infrastructure. But building a highway through protected land is not the answer. Alleviating traffic is an issue many cities face, and time and time again we are shown that adding or expanding roadways is not a long term solution.Building the Northern Corridor Highway would fuel sprawl andultimately make congestion worsewhile destroying a landscape that is treasured by humans and nature alike.
Photo of Red Cliffs National Conservation Area by Bob Wick.
The Red Cliffs National Conservation Area was established in 2009 in an effort to protect mojave desert tortoise habitat. As Washington County’s population has grown, the need for traffic solutions has become more and more apparent, resulting in the ongoing effort to create the Northern Corridor Highway, and bringing Greater Moe’s Valley, a 6,000 acre piece of Trust Lands, into the reserve. Both the Red Cliffs Conservation Area and Greater Moe’s Valley host sensitive habitat, incredible recreation opportunities, and hyper accessible outdoor space for neighboring urban communities. Destroying either of these areas is not a solution.
Need help coming up with a comment? Don't overthink it. Just:
Make it clear that you oppose the Northern Corridor Highway
Make it personal – explain what Red Cliffs means to you and list specific places (trailheads, etc.) or elements (cultural sites, tortoise habitats, recreation opportunities) that the Highway would impact.
Make it polite – thank the agency for the chance to submit public comments.
We believe that both Red Cliffs Conservation Area and Greater Moe’s Valley should be protected from development, and we are committed to supporting the work being done to protect both areas.
