What to know as construction begins on busy Salt Lake City road
Salt Lake City's 100 South project is slated to begin on Monday. Road crews will replace the aging pavement between University Street and North Campus Drive and make a few other changes. Those include connecting the street's north sidewalk to existing pedestrian crossings, improving accessibility at the Wolcott Street and Butler Avenue crossings and widening the south sidewalk to turn it more into a multiuse path on the northwest end of campus.
On-street parking in the area will also be removed, although university officials will look for new 'alternative parking' for the residents who previously parked there, per the city.
'It's important that we ensure safe, reliable access to our world-class medical institutions on the University of Utah campus — University Hospital, Primary Children's Hospital and Huntsman Cancer Institute,' said Mayor Erin Mendenhall, in a statement. 'Improving 100 South will help save lives, support families in crisis and ensure every resident, healthcare worker and visitor can reach these critical facilities safely and easily.'
The road will be limited to a pair of eastbound lanes up the hill, and there will be no westbound traffic down the hill during construction. The same goes for any of the side streets in the area, according to the city.
Access to 1455 East, North Campus Drive, Federal Way and Central Campus Drive will remain open, but city officials urge drivers to use alternate routes as much as possible unless they are 'seeking medical care' at the nearby hospitals that 100 South leads to as it turns into North Campus Drive.
Mario Capecchi Drive and Wasatch Drive are recommended as alternates for westbound traffic for those using medical facilities. Residents in the area can use Federal Way to reach North Campus Drive, while other local streets can help them reach alternate routes like South Temple, University Street, or Virginia Street, which can take them west.
The project follows previous work on 100 South, from 900 East to University Street, which wrapped up in 2021. Construction was intentionally delayed until May, when the university's classes should be wrapped up for the semester. It's expected to wrap up by mid-August, before classes resume for the fall semester on Aug. 18.
University officials appreciate the 'thoughtful planning' that went into the project timing and health care access, Chris Nelson, chief university relations officer, said in a statement on Tuesday.
'These efforts will allow our dedicated healthcare staff as well as our campus employees, students and visitors to continue accessing campus as they need to during the construction,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
What to know as construction begins on busy Salt Lake City road
Construction will begin soon on a project to repair a busy road near the University of Utah, and that means drivers who regularly use it should be prepared for impacts over the next few months. Salt Lake City's 100 South project is slated to begin on Monday. Road crews will replace the aging pavement between University Street and North Campus Drive and make a few other changes. Those include connecting the street's north sidewalk to existing pedestrian crossings, improving accessibility at the Wolcott Street and Butler Avenue crossings and widening the south sidewalk to turn it more into a multiuse path on the northwest end of campus. On-street parking in the area will also be removed, although university officials will look for new 'alternative parking' for the residents who previously parked there, per the city. 'It's important that we ensure safe, reliable access to our world-class medical institutions on the University of Utah campus — University Hospital, Primary Children's Hospital and Huntsman Cancer Institute,' said Mayor Erin Mendenhall, in a statement. 'Improving 100 South will help save lives, support families in crisis and ensure every resident, healthcare worker and visitor can reach these critical facilities safely and easily.' The road will be limited to a pair of eastbound lanes up the hill, and there will be no westbound traffic down the hill during construction. The same goes for any of the side streets in the area, according to the city. Access to 1455 East, North Campus Drive, Federal Way and Central Campus Drive will remain open, but city officials urge drivers to use alternate routes as much as possible unless they are 'seeking medical care' at the nearby hospitals that 100 South leads to as it turns into North Campus Drive. Mario Capecchi Drive and Wasatch Drive are recommended as alternates for westbound traffic for those using medical facilities. Residents in the area can use Federal Way to reach North Campus Drive, while other local streets can help them reach alternate routes like South Temple, University Street, or Virginia Street, which can take them west. The project follows previous work on 100 South, from 900 East to University Street, which wrapped up in 2021. Construction was intentionally delayed until May, when the university's classes should be wrapped up for the semester. It's expected to wrap up by mid-August, before classes resume for the fall semester on Aug. 18. University officials appreciate the 'thoughtful planning' that went into the project timing and health care access, Chris Nelson, chief university relations officer, said in a statement on Tuesday. 'These efforts will allow our dedicated healthcare staff as well as our campus employees, students and visitors to continue accessing campus as they need to during the construction,' he said.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Yahoo
Three injured with one taken to hospital after crash at busy Westcliff junction
A CRASH between two cars at a Westcliff junction has resulted in a person being taken to hospital and others assessed for injuries. The incident took place at around 9.20am at the junction of Fairfax Drive and Glenwood Avenue, and saw two ambulances as well as police vehicles attend. Images of the crash show what appears to be a side-on impact that has caused serious damage to both vehicles. We're now on WhatsApp! Join our new channel at to get all the latest breaking news and exclusive stories delivered straight to your phone. An East of England Ambulance Service spokesperson said: 'We were called around 9.20am to a road traffic collision on the junction of Glenwood Avenue and Fairfax Drive in Westcliff-on-Sea. "Two ambulances were dispatched to the scene and assessed three patients, one of whom required transportation to Southend University Hospital for further treatment.' Disruption - The crash took place at around 9.20am today (Image: Newsquest)Eyewitnesses had earlier reported that the crash was likely caused by a fault with traffic lights at the junction, and that police were directing traffic at the scene. The injuries sustained in the crash are not currently believed to be serious or life-threatening. Traffic is also believed to be moving normally along Fairfax Drive following earlier disruption. A spokesperson for Essex Police also confirmed the force's attendance.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
Drastic traffic changes on the table as UDOT studies Salt Lake City's Capitol Hill
Salt Lake City's downtown, Capitol Hill and University of Utah commutes are converging into regular residential traffic patterns, resulting in unique challenges for the northeast end of Utah's capital city. These challenges are exacerbated by the area's hilly topography, including barriers like City Creek Canyon and the multimodal transportation needs within the triangle. They've also worsened as the city grows, leading to traffic headaches for those zipping in and out of town and additional burdens for the many people living in the neighborhoods at the center of everything. It's why state transportation officials are exploring creative ways to handle a growing number of people using the roadways, adding to efforts at the city level. 'We're trying to balance the transportation network in this area to help people just get around,' said Geoff Dupaix, a Utah Department of Transportation regional planning manager. Following months of surveying, state transportation officials unveiled a series of proposals to address traffic circulation on Tuesday, as they near the end of the Capitol Hill Study. Scenario 1: Add pedestrian enhancements to State Street between North Temple and 300 North, and removing State Street's southbound right turn lane at North Temple. Scenario 2: Close the I-15 interchange at 400 South. Vehicles would enter northbound I-15 at 500 South and exit southbound I-15 at 600 South. Scenario 3: Adjust signal timing at the Victory Road and Beck Street intersection. Scenario 4: Convert Main Street to one lane in each direction between North Temple and 300 North. Scenario 5: Install a grade-separated pedestrian crossing at Main Street and North Temple. Scenario 6: Create a one-way couplet, potentially turning State Street and Main Street into one-way streets in opposite directions. Some two-way access would remain in and around the Capitol Hill area, while a pedestrian scramble — a way to allow pedestrians to cross in any direction during a pause in vehicle traffic — would be installed at North Temple and Main Street. None of the concepts has been funded, however, and they'd require additional study. Coordination with the city would be required in some cases, which means that the suggestions have a long way to go before becoming a reality. Dupaix said the project is more of a 'planning-level study' before more detailed work will begin. 'We're taking more of a 30,000-foot look at the entire area from I-15 all the way over to the University of Utah to determine where people are going first,' he told 'This is just the starting point for a much more in-depth process to really analyze, take into consideration and potentially fund any of these solutions to see what could work.' If the area's traffic patterns and topography aren't complex enough, different agencies also manage its roads. UDOT and Salt Lake City split many of the key routes, which require planning coordination. Those conversations are usually collaborative, keeping everyone on the same page, Salt Lake City transportation engineer Jon Larsen said. 'These roads are all interconnected,' he said, explaining that some streets are so closely intertwined between city and state ownership that projects don't start until they've talked. This is why UDOT included the city in conversations when it started its Capitol Hill Study last year. Since then, it and partners like Horrocks Engineers have reviewed the area's traffic patterns. They also found that downtown, Capitol Hill, and the University of Utah almost equally split destination traffic, although Capitol Hill traffic unsurprisingly triples during the legislative session. Streets like 600 North, North Temple and 300 West generated the most speed-related crashes, posing the top concerns. Initial surveys, which collected feedback from over 600 online participants plus responses from people at community events, found that residents would like to reduce commuter traffic that cuts through residential areas, improving walking/biking accessibility and connectivity in the area and increasing public transit access. All those data points were blended into the concepts displayed Tuesday evening. Project officials believe most scenarios would improve traffic volume or have very little impact on key roads in the area. Still, some of the ideas could negatively impact Main Street, North Temple, and 300 West. 500 South and 600 South could also experience big volume increases with the I-15 change, while 400 South and others would see a big decrease. The options could add to existing transportation projects proposed for the area, including an expansion of I-15, a fourth TRAX line by the university and a bus rapid transit system between Salt Lake City and Davis County. They could also be considered in Salt Lake City's plans for the area. The city still intends to add new bike lanes through a project added to the budget earlier this year. The proposal to convert Main Street to one lane in each direction, among the UDOT options, was complicated by SB195 this year, a bill requiring the city to work with the state on some projects. However, Larsen said it wasn't designed yet, much like the other solutions brought to the table Tuesday. Dozens of people attended UDOT's open house, but the agency is still accepting online public feedback on the six proposals through May 2. Project officials will sort through the feedback and post final recommendations this summer, offering items to study further. 'The ones that seem to rise more to the top we want to bring forward and discuss them with the community,' Dupaix said. Some projects could be implemented relatively soon. Signal timing changes could happen right away if transportation officials choose that, Larsen said. Large-scale projects may require long-term planning and funding, meaning they could take years to come to fruition. Residents will be kept in the loop regardless of what happens next. 'There will undoubtedly be some projects that spin off and get implemented, but there will be further engagement — whether it's a UDOT project or Salt Lake City project — before they're implemented,' he said. 'At this point ... it's very exploratory. If people really like or don't like some of these options, right now is the perfect time to let that be known.'
