It is hard to get too excited about a beneficial project that is at least 10 years away.

That’s the situation with the Midvalley Highway project, which is in the middle of a lengthy public input process right now. The feds are taking input on the updated environmental impact statement, and politicians are starting to wonder how to fund the thing. A public forum about the specific route was last week.

But let’s remember that it may be 10 years before the plans are finalized, funding secured and the environmental stuff figured out, according to the project’s planners. That means at least 10 years before the first ground is leveled or asphalt poured.

That’s a long time to wait.

Anyone who has lived here for more than five years likes to comment about how the area has really grown. And official projections say traffic in the Tooele Valley will triple by 2030. We need this road to take pressure off SR-36 and make it easier to get around.

Those in favor of the road say the highway will add more north-south traffic capacity. It will make it easier to get to the Deseret Peak, Miller Motorsports Park and the Utah Industrial Depot. It will bring new business and more money to the valley. Opponents don’t like the potential environmental impact, or the increased noise and traffic in the valley.

But we need the road — the question to me is how long do we have to wait to get it?

If our elected officials — both local, state and national — really got on the bus on this project, maybe the funding could be partially in place as soon as 2010. The estimation is that Tooele County will pay about 20 percent of the cost, with the rest coming from state and federal funds.

I realize that government stuff takes time — a lot of time. But surely there are a few things that we as citizens could do to speed up the process.

Here are my suggestions. First, tell your elected officials this is a priority to you and our county. Second, write to your national officials and ask them to start the financial procurement process (www.senate.gov and www.house.gov). Third, e-mail your opinions to www.midvalleyhighway.com. There is a handy little e-mail box on the Web site where you can send in your comments — and you don’t even have to attend a meeting.

This highway needs to happen. Let’s work to make it happen as quickly as possible.

Ann Herron is a journalist and former associate professor at Utah State University who lives in Tooele. She can be reached at annherron@comcast.net.