Herriman neighbors concerned about road safety conditions on Gina Road

HERRIMAN, Utah (ABC4) — After multiple reported issues with road safety along Gina Road in Herriman, some neighbors say they are frustrated with the lack of help from the city. 

Along Gina Road, residents say the cars speed, gravel flies — and road conditions do not help. With no sidewalks, streetlights, or speed limit signs, some neighbors say cars regularly speed through at over 40 miles an hour.

“Speed limit signs were installed by residents so we could try and get the speed down, but as soon as they hit the dirt road they speed up intentionally,” Tyler Demars, who lives on the road, told ABC4.com.

“We’re putting in a bolder wall, because during the winter the potholes get so bad that people drive onto our property to avoid the potholes on the road,” resident Jillian Demars said.

Neighbors are worried about a 1,500-foot stretch of gravel.

“People speed up on dirt because it’s a main connector from one neighborhood to another. The asphalt stops and then the asphalt starts,” Zach Gordon said.

Although the gravel is a small stretch of the road, it has big impacts. 

“It’s dangerous for all of us and our kids. It shoots rocks up and damages the houses and puts rocks in our yard,” Tyler Demars said.

On Saturday, neighbors had a wakeup call when a car nearly crashed into a house on Gina Road.

“He lost control — fishtailing — and you can see here where he ran… the boulder was here where we’re standing,” Lorena Iorg said, gesturing to her driveway. “He hit the boulder and actually lifted it here, and they rolled two times and landed right next to the corner of my house.”

Herriman City says Gina Road is on its radar and is part of its capital 10-year-plan, but the cost of this kind of project is steep with limited funding on the city’s end. The city also says it has not received all the necessary right-of-way for portions of Gina Road that are privately owned.

“There are a couple of little sections of the road that are privately owned, and those owners want the city to buy the property from them and do the improvements, and that’s been a sticky spot with the city, they haven’t wanted to come in and take it by eminent domain,” Gordon said.

Some neighbors have voiced their concerns for years, and said they are not giving up hope that the road will be made safe. 

“I think primarily, if they cannot afford to pave right now, they need to put up a safety measure or put in a sidewalk or just create a safe space that people know,” Iorg said.

The city also said it is reviewing short-term improvements that could be made in the future, including speed limit signs and traffic enforcement.