What if Mesa Drive went through to 93? Updated September of 2025

In January of 2022 I posted survey results from late 2021 on opening Mesa Drive. But the Marshall fire was in December of that year. Has the mood changed? The survey is open again with a new question added.

Original Post Below

So here is a controversial topic, but aren’t they all? There is a survey at the bottom to let me know your thoughts on this. It includes some pictures if you want to get some context.

When part of Mesa Meadows was platted there was a note on the plat that stated that when the north section was completed, Mesa Drive would be completed to connect to 93. Oddly I saw that note once, but can’t find it now, nor did I ever see it recinded. The city owns about 4.5 acres of land for the right of way and could in fact connect Mesa Drive if there was a strong push to do so. If and when 93 is realigned, Mesa Drive would connect to “Old 93”, the slower, low speed version, but for now that is not yet funded, so Mesa Drive would provide a through connection to Hwy 93 as it is in 2021.

Pros - Ford street has a ton of through traffic up to Pine Ridge, especially north of Iowa, just to connect to Mesa Drive or Wyoming on the East side. Likewise there is a lot of traffic on Ford to connect to Alaska or North Jackson with the only way “in” via Iowa or Pine Ridge. Since there is a light where Mesa would come out (opposite of Golden Gate Canyon) traffic could go south or north on 93, where as it can only go North now if you come out at Pine Ridge. So, traffic would likely decrease on Ford, decrease on Iowa, probably decrease on Pine Ridge, but obviously increase on Mesa. For safety, if there were a fire or some other reason people wanted to exit Joseph Circle or Tucker Gulch Way, there would now be egress for safety. Likewise for fire access to Mesa Drive and roads east it may cut down on drive time.

Cons - Obviously the people on the houses that back to this would be highly affected (Ford, Idaho, Tucker Gulch Way). Depending on the actual alignment, design speed (hopefully super low), and location it would affect some neighbors more than others, and could affect quiet at Norman D park. Already Ford gets a lot of cut through traffic going south, if people want to avoid the light at Washington and cut over, it may lead to more, not less cutthrough traffic. The intersection at Mesa Drive and Ford would have to be redone, as a more complete roundabout, and some people don’t like those. Dealing with peds and bikes would be challenging too. Around town roads with easy access to highways allow for quick exit by bad actors, such as burglers who enter garages and steal bikes. Having an alternate route out may give easier access to these bad actors.

I’m interested in what people think about this, but don’t want to open a back and forth that is frankly, uncivil, so click here to provide input on a survey and I will post the results at some future date.