UDOT Pauses Logan Canyon Fiber Project for Winter

Drivers moving through Logan Canyon this year have faced delays and lane restrictions as the Utah Department of Transportation continues work on a major fiber optic installation project. The construction, which began in early spring, is designed to place a continuous fiber line through the length of the canyon from Logan to Garden City.

Since last spring, drivers in the canyon have dealt with long waits at temporary lights while the cable is laid in trenches.

UDOT communications manager Mitch Shaw said the project is entering a winter pause due to weather, but c will resume in the spring.

“We’re winding down construction right now,” Shaw said. “We’re taking a pause over the winter, but the project is not finished. We’re hoping to wrap the whole project up a year from now — basically fall of 2026.”

While work is paused, most normal traffic flow will return to the canyon. Shaw said drivers may still see protected shoulders or occasional equipment, but the roadway will function largely as it did before construction.

The current project is the final phase of a multi-year effort. UDOT previously installed fiber near both ends of the canyon, but the center section has remained without service. This last segment will connect the entire stretch.

“This is the final phase that will connect everything,” Shaw said. “Once this is finished, there will be fiber optic cable throughout the entire canyon connecting to both ends.”

UDOT has coordinated its work with other utilities to avoid multiple rounds of closures. Rocky Mountain Power, Utah Department of Transportation and Power Department and Logan Water Department have used the open trench to complete upgrades of their own.

“So, while we have our trench open, they’re up there making upgrades to their power system, Logan power, Logan water,” Shaw said. “We can tackle everything at once so we don’t have to go in there multiple times and shut down traffic.”

The project cost is approximately $25.4 million, funded through statewide transportation tax revenue.

Shaw said UDOT prioritizes projects based on road conditions, traffic data, crash history and public needs. A statewide transportation commission and the legislature both play roles in funding decisions.

Although construction has caused delays, emergency agencies reported coordination with UDOT has helped intain access. Craig Humphreys, assistant chief and fire marshal for Cache County, said dispatch centers communicate directly with UDOT to clear the way for emergency vehicles.

“Dispatch has the ability to make contact with those that run the lights, and they’re able to remotely change the lights in our favor so we can get through as quickly as possible,” Humphreys said.

Humphreys said the construction has only minimally affected fire response, but it is another obstacle on the roadway.

“It is another hazard on the roadway that we need to work our way around, but it hasn’t been drastic,” Humphreys said. “The value is well worth the minimum it takes right now while it’s in process.”

Once the fiber line is complete, agencies expect long-term benefits from improved connectivity. The installation will allow UDOT to add traffic cameras and electronic message signs, which are not currently possible in the canyon.

“We will be able to install cameras up there,” Shaw said. “It will allow us to install electronic signs so we can give people real-time road messaging.”

The new line will also enable cell service in the canyon for the first time. While UDOT will not install or operate cell towers, private companies and local governments will be able to access the public fiber utility once it is in place.

Humphreys said cell service would significantly improve emergency response because 911 calls are often delayed until someone reaches an area with coverage.

“Right now, the delay happens between the time of an accident and the time it takes someone to get within cell phone range,” Humphreys said. “If they have immediate cell phone coverage, we’ve cut that response time in half.”

Marshall Blom, Logan district ranger for the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, said the construction has slowed U.S. Forest Service travel in the canyon, but UDOT has worked with his staff during emergency situations.

“There were some hiccups in the first two weeks,” Blom said. “But in one case, all of their stoplights and equipment being up there was actually a benefit to us when we had to close the canyon down to the Rick Springs [Wyoming] fire.”

Blom said the Forest Service will review environmental impact documents related to future infrastructure. However, he worries about an increase in distracted drivers who would have cell service where they previously didn’t.

UDOT is encouraging travelers to sign up for updates through its project website to monitor future impacts when construction resumes in the spring.