UDOT open house on upcoming Exit 8 Interchange construction

An example of how the proposed diverging diamond interchange may look. A final design has yet to be determined | Graphic courtesy of Utah Department of Transportation

ST. GEORGE – An open house is being held at the Ramada Inn Thursday from 5-7 p.m., Thursday by the Utah Department of Transportation regarding upcoming work on the St. George Boulevard/Exit 8 Interchange.

Beginning this week, the UDOT is moving forward with simultaneous design and construction of a Diverging Diamond Interchange over I-15 at Exit 8.  This modification of the existing St. George Boulevard interchange will improve traffic flow and safety, provide pedestrian passage over the interstate, and improve operations of local intersections at 1000 East and at River Road.

A Diverging Diamond Interchange briefly channels traffic to the opposite side of the road as it passes over the interstate to provide safer left turns and reduced waiting time at signals. The configuration also provides greater storage space to help adjacent local intersections operate more efficiently.  The project is valued at $16.3 million.  The modifications are expected to handle traffic demand through the year 2040 with construction winding down by the end of this year.

This interchange type has proved successful at several locations in northern Utah and will be the first such structure for Southern Utah.  It’s also the first project released for construction under concepts introduced in a recently finalized Environmental Assessment of I-15 that evaluates several transportation needs from the Arizona border to milepost 16.

To prepare for construction, the Utah Department of Transportation will be holding a public open house to introduce the contractor team and the project goals to the public, discuss the project schedule and plan for construction, and display information on how traffic will be maintained during construction.  The open house is a great opportunity to learn more about what is happening in your community and what to expect during construction.

Please feel free to contact a project representative with any questions or concerns at [email protected] or 435-216-9313.

If you cannot attend the open house, please visit the project website at www.udot.utah.gov/stgeorgemp8 for project information, a video on what a Diverging Diamond Interchange looks like, to provide comments, and sign up for project update.

Open house Recap:

What: UDOT Open House concerning the Exit 8 Interchange

Where: Ramada Inn, 1440 East Saint George Blvd.

When:  5-7 p.m., Thursday, June 27, 2013

Submitted by: Utah Department of Transportation

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

An example of how the proposed diverging diamond interchange may look. A final design has yet to be determined | Graphic courtesy of Utah Department of Transportation
An example of how the proposed diverging diamond interchange may look. A final design has yet to be determined | Graphic courtesy of Utah Department of Transportation

 

 

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2 Comments

  • DB June 27, 2013 at 3:20 pm

    Sounds intriguing, I hope it works. It could be even more entertaining for visiting tourists than the Bloomington roundabout! Twice in the last few weeks, I’ve seen RVs try to do the roundabout clockwise. Poor folks, their eyes were the size of golf balls…

  • Dr. Andrew White June 27, 2013 at 4:24 pm

    Interesting design. I can see how it will help to keep traffic flowing.

    I would like to see a freeway over/underpass at Mall Drive or 1680 East. I think that would help remove a significant amount of traffic from 1000 East and River Rd-St George Blvd intersections.

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