PLEASANT GROVE - A former state senator was hired by the city to help speed the building of a freeway interchange up by a year and help the city avoid legislative speed bumps and potholes.

Former Senate Majority Leader Craig A. Peterson, R-Orem,will earn $3,000 over the three months as a technical consultant for the installation of a $27 million interchange on Interstate 15.

The proposed exit will connect to Pleasant Grove's 2000 West. It will be between the Lindon exit and the American Fork 500 East exit and near a existing, but closed, rest stop.

It could be built in the next five years. Funding sources have not been finalized, but American Fork and Lindon also may benefit from the interchange.

Peterson's job is to guide city officials through the legislative funding process and through the process used by Utah Department of Transportation officials to prioritize highway improvements, said Richard Paulsen, director of city administrative services.

Pleasant Grove Mayor Ed Sanderson and Lindon Mayor Larry Ellertson are lobbying to keep the project in the minds of Utah lawmakers, Paulsen said.

The $500,000 in engineering work on the project was expected to start July 2000.

City officials expect to receive approval on the environmental aspects of the project by the end of April and would like to start the engineering work in July, Paulsen said.

But the city won't know if the money is a go for this year until lawmakers approve the state's 1999-2000 budget, which is expected at the session's end on Wednesday.

Pleasant Grove is north of the freeway at that proposed exit point, Lindon to the south and American Fork lies on both sides.

The exit also would make what is called 4800 West in Utah County a major road from Highland to the highway.

Peterson was a state Senator for 10 years, including three years as majority leader. He resigned in December to become a consulting engineer.

He was replaced by John L. Valentine, R-Orem.