More than 16,000 public comments have been submitted for a proposal on whether to allow a highway to be built through a protected Mojave desert tortoise habitat in southern Utah.

 

The four-lane road has drawn criticism from conservationists.

 

The Spectrum newspaper reported the road would pass through the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area.

 

Bureau of Land Management officials opened the public comment period in December and say they will now go through all of the comments before releasing a draft environmental impact statement.

 

Details on the nature of the comments were not disclosed.