Crucial river road’s collapse gives Moab economy jitters

Grand County and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management are scrambling to find emergency federal funds to rebuild the Mineral Bottom Road, which was washed out earlier this year. The road is an important river-running link and mountain bike route in Grand County. They applied to the Federal Highway Administration for emergency aid of $1.8 million to $2.5 million, and Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, sent the agency a letter backing the bid.

Highway officials have said the road, maintained by the county but crossing federal land, qualifies for an emergency funding program to aid federal highways. They haven’t yet approved the application, though. The BLM estimates the road supports 87 jobs and about $1.9 million in annual recreation sales. Salt Lake Tribune

Construction to begin soon on $33 million Hurricane High School

Construction starts this year on a projected $33 million high school in Hurricane. Construction of a new building and sports field, along with renovations to some existing parts of the facility, are intended to make room for 1,500 students and improve the schools vocational facilities.

Building will start this fall as crews work to build the new football field and stadium, planning to have the track ready for spring sports. It’s the first step in a project planned for four phases. Next year the plan is to construct the new building on top of where the existing football field is. Then crews would tear down part of the existing building, and eventually build a new vocational building. The Spectrum

Improvement time: Logan-Cache Airport works on multiple projects

Multiple improvement projects are under way, planned or already completed at the Logan-Cache Airport. The facility's main runway is closed to all air traffic until Friday as construction crews resurface two 1,000-foot-long safety strips at each end. The project is being funded by the Federal Aviation Administration and the state. Next on the agenda is to address a long-standing problem with one of the airport's lighting arrays. Logan Herald Journal

North Ogden divide project seeking more federal dollars

The project to fix the North Ogden divide crumbled this summer when the project's scope exceeded the funds allotted. But that issue will likely be resolved Thursday morning as the Utah State Transportation Commission is expected to approve the additional money needed to complete the project.

Utah Department of Transportation project manager Nathan Peterson said funds will come from the Joint Highway Committee. These are federal dollars that are allocated to Utah each year by Congress for use on transportation facilities in the rural and small urban areas of the state. According to the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, the total cost of the project is $643,569, and it has received $599,999 in federal aid money so far. Ogden Standard-Examiner