SHORT TAKES : Redford Leary of Olympic Impact

Actor Robert Redford owns a ski resort in the mountains east of Salt Lake City, but he’s opposed to widening the road that leads to it, and has mixed feelings about bringing the Winter Olympics to Utah.

Utah voters on Tuesday approved a referendum calling for spending $56 million to build ski jumps, a speed skating oval and bobsled-luge runs required by the International Olympics Committee, which will pick a 1998 site in June, 1991.

Redford said he personally was not opposed to the Games--none of which would be held at his Sundance resort--but felt the state should make sure the Olympics did not lead to further damage of the Utah environment.

Redford criticized proposals to expand to four lanes the two-lane Provo Canyon highway, which leads to his resort.

“Are we going to cut the canyon to suit the road or cut the road to suit the canyon? Personally, I prefer the latter,” he said.