Pubdate: Tue, 22 Oct 2002 Source: Deseret News (UT) Copyright: 2002 Deseret News Publishing Corp. Contact: http://www.desnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/124 Author: Lezlee E. Whiting, Deseret News correspondent WOLF CREEK PASS BOOSTS ACCESS TO THE UINTA BASIN DUCHESNE -- Law enforcement officials are discovering that an 8-year federal highway project to make the scenic Wolf Creek Road more accessible to motorists has made it easier for drug runners to drive from Salt Lake City to the Uinta Basin without being detected. The $30 million Wolf Creek Road traverses a rugged mountain pass through west Duchesne County and east Summit County and was completed a year ago. The project transformed a rugged and narrow dirt road into a year-round highway. It provides a safer and more direct route for residents of Duchesne County's east side to travel to the Wasatch Front while giving Wasatch Front recreationists easier access to hunting, fishing and camping in Duchesne County. While the completed project may be great for tourism, it's also being used more frequently by those conducting illegal drug activity "That's probably becoming a route because it's not patrolled very often and people are using it more now because it's kind of out of the area," said Duchesne County sheriff's deputy Brad Draper. "On Highway 40 from Salt Lake City to Vernal, they will run into numerous law enforcement officers, but the other way they don't. We are trying to anticipate that and we will try to use that as an artery and effect some kind of interdiction," Draper said. He recently arrested two residents of Whiterocks, Uintah County, after finding cocaine in their car. Many of those arrested for drugs who have been nabbed coming over the pass have been found to be suppliers and are being charged with first-degree felonies. Most of those arrested are repeat offenders, he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom