The newly constructed HAWK (High-Intensity Activated) crosswalk, at the junction of Nye Drive and Fort Union Boulevard leading into Bella Vista Elementary School (2131 Fort Union Blvd.), was unveiled during its ribbon cutting on Aug. 16 at 10 a.m. The crosswalk extends for approximately 60 feet. 

Cottonwood Heights City Manager Jared Gerber, Cottonwood Heights City Mayor Mike Weichers, Canyons School District Board President Amber Shill, and resident Madeline Melini all spoke about the safety for pedestrians and students at the ribbon cutting event. 

Mayor Mike Weichers and resident Madeline Melini cut the ribbon for the HAWK crosswalk accompanied by Councilmembers Ellen Birrell, Suzanne Hyland and Shawn Newell, Canyons School District Board President Amber Shill, and Rep. Gay Lynn Bennion.

“This project aims to improve safety at the intersection, particularly for students from Bella Vista Elementary School and other pedestrians who frequently use this crossing,” city leaders Gerber and Weichers echoed. 

(Please see the attached Cottonwood Heights Newsletter for further details on how to navigate and activate the HAWK crosswalk, under the “Important Safety Update!” section on page 4.)  

The previously unsafe conditions of the road discouraged students from walking to school and residents from walking to the library and other nearby amenities. 

Cottonwood Heights Public Works team members have been working on this project throughout the summer months. While they were working on installing the crosswalk, they ran into some previously-unknown utilities under the asphalt that could only by accessed by boring through the road. This work caused a bit of a delay but the team was determined to have the crosswalk completed and functional by the time school started for Bella Vista.

Officials said they appreciated everyone’s patience during that time. 

Even with the new construction and updates to the underground utilities, Cottonwood Heights Public Works Director Matthew Shipp mentioned that they will still need to tear out and redo the storm water drain at some point in the near future. 

“I know putting up a pole seemed simple…and I wish it was that simple,” Shipp said. 

This HAWK crosswalk project was partially funded by a federal grant with matching dollars from the city and the Utah Department of Transportation. The Public Works team initially put a 50-day contract length on this project, even though they could have done the work within a 30-day contract, because the bid for a 30-day contract would have raised the price by $10,000. Public Works was able to remain ahead of the federal timeline despite the delay mentioned above. Altogether, the HAWK crosswalk cost $475,000 even with federal funds. 

"The road to safer streets has only just begun. Danger from left-hand turns, runners of red lights, speeders, impaired and distracted drivers is not going away,” said Councilmember Ellen Birrell. 

Birrell expressed her personal views on the matter some more. 

“Forty miles per hour on Fort Union Boulevard is too fast. Wherever there is high access (intersecting streets and driveways), motorists, not to mention pedestrians, are safer when speeds are no higher than 30 miles per hour according to the Federal Highway Administration...We have a chance to take a Safety First approach and implement immediate and inexpensive demonstration facilities to reduce serious injuries and fatalities. Better to have more numerous fender-benders than even one serious vehicular crash.”