Salt Lake Climbers Alliance to host event in opposition of Little Cottonwood Canyon Gondola B

The traffic snake at Little Cottonwood Canyon on a pow day. Photo: TownLift // Kevin Cody.

SALT LAKE CITY — While the Gondola B solution to the traffic jams of Little Cottonwood Canyon (LCC)was selected as the preferred alternative to be considered by the Utah Department of Transportation, it has been met with significant pushback by many. The Salt Lake Climbers Alliance is one making its stance against Gondola B by having an event at the Black Diamond Headquarters on February 22 from 5-7 p.m.

The Salt Lake Climbers Alliance also has a public comment form for those wishing to share their thoughts on the project with the Wasatch Front Regional Council. Comments must be submitted by February 26. The organization is also selling a “Support a Gondola-Free Little Cottonwood” t-shirt in which proceeds go to Friends of LCC’s funding of a lobbyist to further the cause. It can be purchased at Black Diamond HQ and Trolley Square retail locations.

The final decision is expected to be made sometime in the summer of 2023 by UDOT.

On the flip side of the argument UDOT said in its original statement, “Gondola B, with phased implementation, best meets the project purpose and need and provides the highest travel reliability for the public.” It continued by saying, “The gondola can operate independently of S.R. 210, avoiding delays related to adverse weather, crashes, slide-offs and slow-moving traffic. This alternative has the highest visual impacts but low impacts to the watershed, wildlife movement, and climbing boulders.”

Those against the plan argue against the gondola’s potential reckless spending, environmental impact, and the altering of pristine canyon views.