ST. GEORGE — With continuing growth comes the need to build new roads and improve existing ones so they can handle the increased traffic and remain safe for drivers and pedestrian alike.
In St. George, work on a large stretch of 3000 East is the main project of the day, with others planned following completion of that one.
3000 East corridor
The 3000 East corridor project runs from the intersection of Mall Drive at Riverside Road over to 3000 East, then follows south on 3000 East to 2630 South.
The project, which includes intersection expansions; widening parts of the roadway; installing curbs, gutter and sidewalk; and improving active transportation elements, is broken down into six phases. Notable parts of the project include realigning 3650 South with 1250 South and eventually tying into the Southern Parkway.
Mall Drive is also being widened between Riverside Drive and 3000 East as a part of the overall project.
Cameron Cutler, the city’s public works director, told St. George News that although the project was originally estimated to take two years to complete, increased construction prices, supply chain issues and material shortages may extend that period.
The first three phases of the project started in fall 2021, with two of them originally set to be complete around the end of January or shortly thereafter, according to the city’s website. These three phases include the following:
- Mall Drive between Riverside Drive and 3000 East (currently wrapping up).
- 3000 East from Mall Drive to north of 1450 South (wrapping up).
- 3000 East from in the area of 3560 South and to 1580 South (set to end in June).
The remaining phases on 3000 East are the following:
- 1580 South to 2000 South (anticipated to start this summer).
- 2000 South to 2450 South (may also start this summer).
- 2450 South to 2630 South (may start winter 2022-23).
Funds originally approved by the St. George City Council for the project several months ago amounted to $21 million, Cutler said. Much like the timeline, while it was thought that amount would fund the entire project, due to supply chain issues, that won’t be the case. In one instance, prices for materials have jumped by 50%, Cutler said.
This has resulted in parts of the project being pushed back to the next fiscal year when additional funding becomes available.
Part of the high price tag for the project is due to the drainage work the city is doing in addition to the roadwork. Alongside 3000 East is an old ditch used for irrigation that the city is replacing with a buried pipeline.
“That’s why you see the big pipes and the big ditch north of the Red Cliffs Temple site,” Cutler said.
General updates on the 3000 East roadwork can be found here.
Other projects in the works
While other projects have been placed on the waiting list until 3000 East concludes, smaller things are still being done here and there to move the projects forward as circumstance allows, Cutler said.
Gap Canyon Parkway is the next priority for the city of St. George. Formerly called Plantations Drive, Gap Canyon Parkway will serve as an alternative route to Dixie Drive. It will run from 1500 North on Dixie Drive and pass the Divario developments and Southbrook to tie into Santa Clara. It is anticipated to serve as a new corridor of travel to and from the Santa Clara-Ivins area.
There had been hope for federal grants for the 1450 South extension to the Southern Parkway, Cutler said; however, that funding wasn’t included in the federal infrastructure bill recently passed by Congress.
Another 1450 South extension is also planned to run west from River Road and connect with Crosby Way by the Dixie Convention Center. This will involve the annexation of some property into St. George, as well as the building of a new bridge over the Virgin River, Cutler said.
The city is currently finishing roadwork on a part of 2800 South in Little Valley near Coyote Springs that includes installing curb and gutter. This project also includes widening a part of the road and drainage work.
Planned traffic signals
On Dixie Drive, new signals are planned for where the road intersects Sunbrook Drive and Canyon View Drive.
Signals are also planned for 3000 East and Crimson Ridge Drive, as well as Brigham Road and Bloomington Hills Drive.
Cutler did not given an estimate on when these lights may be installed.
Public transit expansion
Work continues, albeit slowly, on the transit line between St. George and Springdale. This pushed back potential Suntran expansions for the time being, Cutler said.
However, new routes are nonetheless being eyed for an eventual expansion to either the Little Valley or Bloomington-Sunriver areas, as well as up to Tech Ridge given the growth projected for that part of the city.
“We’re still talking about that,” Cutler said. “Its slow going, but its coming.”
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