Construction continues to impact roadways throughout Cache Valley

Drivers across Cache Valley are navigating a wave of construction projects this spring with major work underway in Sardine Canyon, along Main Street and on state Route 30. While the projects are expected to improve infrastructure and safety, they are already creating noticeable delays for commuters. 

The most immediate impact is in the canyon near Mantua, where traffic has been reduced to one lane in each direction. According to Utah Department of Transportation communications manager Mitch Shaw, the work was not planned.

“What’s going on right now in Sardine Canyon is it’s essentially an emergency repair work,” Shaw said. 

The issue stems from a failed culvert beneath U.S. Highway 89/91. A culvert is a structure or pipe that allows water to flow underneath a roadway. The damage required urgent attention to avoid more serious consequences, such as the road being washed away.   

“The risk you run not getting in there and repairing something like that is that you could basically have a pretty bad failure of the road,” Shaw said. 

Construction began in late March and is expected to wrap up by the end of April if conditions allow.

For students like Genevieve Cannon, who explained that she drives through the canyon to go home to Ogden two to four times a month, the delays are already noticeable. 

She mentioned the construction has slowed traffic but not always because of the work itself.

“It’s more the way that people drive through it,” Cannon said. 

She described congestion caused by drivers staying in the left lane too long and bottlenecks forming when traffic merges.

“People drive in the left lane for all up until the construction, and so you can’t pass them because then you get a blockade,” Cannon said. 

In some cases, she said confusion around lane changes has created safety concerns.

“My little sister almost got in a wreck because somebody was driving on the wrong side of the barrels,” Cannon said. 

Closer to campus, construction near 600 S. Main St. is also affecting traffic. The project will build a pedestrian undercrossing to connect the Logan River Trail without requiring pedestrians to cross the busy roadway.

The project has reduced traffic to one lane in each direction between 450 South and 700 South. 

“We do expect some delays there, especially during peak commute hours,” Shaw said. 

The undercrossing project is valued at approximately $10.4 million and has been a long-requested addition for the city aimed at improving pedestrian safety and traffic flow.

Cannon said while the construction can be inconvenient, it has been manageable compared to other areas.

“The construction there isn’t that bad,” Cannon said. 

A larger, long-term project is underway on state Route 30, also known as 200 North, where crews are widening the roadway and upgrading infrastructure from state Route 23 to 1000 West. The project began preparation work in 2023 and is expected to be completed by fall 2026. The work includes road widening, bridge and utility improvements and new pedestrian infrastructure. 

“We’re essentially improving that road to help improve safety and just to accommodate the growth that’s happening,” Shaw said. 

The project carries a price tag of about $90 million and is funded by UDOT.

While the combination of projects has created frustration for some drivers, transportation officials say the long-term benefits will outweigh the short-term inconvenience.

“It’s kind of a temporary pain for a longer-term gain,” Shaw said. 

For Cannon, the experience has already changed how she plans her trips.

“I oftentimes will put it into maps just to get a better idea of my ETA,” Cannon said.