Canyon road work to continue
Utah State University students may experience 10- to 15-minute traffic delays through the east or west ends of Logan Canyon this Labor Day weekend as construction crews complete two summer-long projects.
On the west entrance of the canyon, roads will be restricted to one lane as the Utah Department of Transportation replaces three bridges and installs some new structures that will meet current design and safety standards.
Roads on the east end of the canyon, between the canyon summit and Garden City, will be restricted to one lane as well as crews widen the road about seven miles to accommodate the addition of uphill and downhill passing lanes and the realignment of several sharp curves, according to the UDOT Web site.
“The main thing is to improve the safety of the road up there,” said Wendy Hansen, U.S. 89 public information manager for UDOT. “They haven’t had a major project in the canyon like this for a couple of years.”
Students can expect these 10- to 15-minute delays to last through the end of September. Crews will still be working on the two projects throughout the winter, but delays will be minimal, if any, said Andy Neff, UDOT spokesperson.
By December, UDOT plans to have all three bridges half constructed and both projects are scheduled to be complete by fall 2006.
“We want motorists to be aware that the speed limit has been reduced to 30 miles per hour (in construction zones) and to use caution,” Neff said.
Over a 5-year period, from 1999 to 2004, there were over 100 accidents between the canyon summit to Garden City and 80 percent of those were single vehicle accidents, Neff said.
“These safety improvements are directed at reducing these single-vehicle accidents,” Neff said.
Crews are also rebuilding the three 70-year-old bridges on the west end of the canyon so they meet up to current safety standards.
Both projects are costing a total of $12.7 million.
UDOT officials put together an extensive public information campaign at the beginning of the summer to help inform the public of canyon construction and any changes that may occur, said Hansen.
Aside from the UDOT Web site, press kits and a roadside information phone number, UDOT also hired four USU students to help inform the community.
Their three main objectives were to distribute accurate information about construction in the canyon, offer public support and portray a positive image about UDOT, said Blake Berrett, a senior majoring in public relations.
“They (UDOT) used us as much as they could and it was a good experience for us,” Berrett said. “This was all new for them and they’ll probably do it again in the future.”
For more information about Logan Canyon construction, go to www.udot.utah.gov.
A temporary traffic light is set up at the west end of Logan Canyon to control traffic while construction crews work on the new bridges. (Jessica Alexander)