From new I-15 interchanges to more roundabouts, regional transportation expo showcases road projects

ST. GEORGE — State, regional and local road planners came together Tuesday for the return of the annual Dixie Regional Transportation Expo in St. George. Staged at the Dixie Convention Center, officials highlighted ongoing and future projects while also taking input from the public.

At the 2023 Dixie Regional Transportation Expo, St. George, Utah, Feb. 7, 2023 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

Now in its 18th year, the 2023 expo featured some first-time booths, said Myron Lee, director of the Dixie Metropolitan Planning Organization. Among the newcomers was the St. George Police Department, which had officers on hand to share the new “Watch Your 6” traffic safety campaign.

Both Lee and Kevin Kitchen, a spokesman for the Utah Department of Transportation, said they were surprised by the number of people who visited the expo.

“Several hundred people have come through,” Kitchen said, adding he enjoyed seeing the high level of engagement between visitors and expo representatives as people came to learn about the future of transportation in the county. “I think it’s fantastic.”

While showcasing current and future road projects is a goal of the expo, it also promotes public input for the various road projects either underway or proposed throughout the county. Attendees were able to complete surveys or place Post-it notes on large maps at locations they felt needed to be addressed by road planners.

What follows are highlights of the various projects featured at the expo:

Utah Department of Transportation

This year UDOT is focusing on two specific projects in Washington County. One is the incoming Interstate 15 interchange to be built in Washington City, and the environmental assessment currently underway for another I-15 interchange proposed for downtown St. George.

At the 2023 Dixie Regional Transportation Expo, St. George, Utah, Feb. 7, 2023 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

The interchange in Washington City will connect to Main Street and has already begun to see movement with the recent demolition of houses within the construction zone. Kitchen said people will continue to see some work done in that area in preparation for major construction that should “begin in a matter of weeks.”

During the construction of I-15-Main Street interchange, UDOT plans to keep one lane of travel in each direction open to motorists, Kitchen said.

The second interchange location in the area of 700 South in downtown St. George is currently undergoing an environmental assessment that will be narrowed down to which design out of a handful of others will best serve that spot. The best option, or preferred alternative, picked by UDOT’s road planners likely will be decided on and released to the public for review sometime in the spring.

Both projects are a part of a larger one aimed at widening I-15 to three lanes in either direction between Exits 6 and 8. This project is set to start in 2024.

St. George

St. George continues work on 3000 East and recently began it fourth phase of constriction, said Cameron Cutler, the city of St. George’s public works director. The fifth and sixth phases of the project are expected to bid out sometime between March and May. The city hopes to have the overall project completed around the end of the year.

A sign warns motorists on Dixie Drive of roadwork being done ahead, St. George, Utah, Jan. 17, 2023 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

The other big project for the city right now is extending George Washington Boulevard (1450 South) from River Road west to the Dixie Drive/Exit 5 interchange of I-15. This project will include the construction of a bridge over the Virgin River.

Once built, George Washington Boulevard will create a new east-west corridor for traffic in that part of the city. Roadwork is anticipated to start sometime in 2024.

Work on Dixie Drive between Canyon View Drive and Valley View Drive continues. The reconstruction of that segment of roadway began mid-January and is projected to last around two months from that point.

The intersection of Dixie Drive and Canyon View Drive has also been marked as a new location for a traffic signal.

St. George Airport

The St. George Regional Airport experienced its third best January on record, Airport Manager Rich Stehmeier said. While 2022 ended with over 270,000 people flying out of the airport compared with 2021’s 325,000, Stehmeier was still happy with the outcome.

“It looks like we’re on a good trajectory for a great year,” he said.

The airport is working on expanding its terminal ramp for a new fixed-base operations, or FBO area. A fixed base operator is a commercial operation that provides aviation services to major airports as well as smaller airports and hangars.

At the 2023 Dixie Regional Transportation Expo, St. George, Utah, Feb. 7, 2023 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

Expanding the terminal ramp is part of an overall plan to expand and upgrade the airport. Part of this expansion includes the addition of food offerings beyond vending machines, This came to the airport in the form of a concessions area and gift shop that opened in December.

Regarding flights, the flight to Dallas-Fort Worth is returning in March. Work is also underway to secure flights to either San Francisco or Seattle.

St. George Police

“We’re here to let people know about the six deadliest choices people make behind the wheel in St. George, Washington County,” St. George Police office Tiffany Mitchell said as she spoke about the St. George Police Department’s “Watch You 6” campaign.”

The six “deadliest choices” are listed below:

Driving impaired.

Making improper turns.

Failure to yield.

Following too closely.

Reckless or distracted driving.

Failure to stop at a red light.

It is the first year the St. George Police Department has been invited to participate at the expo, Mitchell said. Thus far it was a good experience as people approached officers with questions and concerns about traffic, she said.

SunTran

The SunTran transit service overseen by St. George has been preparing for the St. George-to-Springdale route which is anticipated to begin by the middle of 2024. The route has been in the works for years and began to see real possibility thanks to funding from UDOT in 2018.

“We’re in the process of ordering facilities and buses,” Mike Cardon, the transit manager for SunTran, said. “We’re excited about getting going.”

In this file photo, SunTran buses at the stop on 100 South near 1000 East in St. George, Utah, Dec. 12, 2019 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

As SunTran officials have been working on the St. George-to-Springdale route, that hasn’t been much focus on expanding routes in St. George, Cardon said. However, there are some ideas for new routes for the city. New routes are also being considered in Ivins and Washington City.

Washington City

Washington City is in the process of creating new bus stops along Telegraph Street for its SunTran route. These stops will include pulls-offs for the buses to use and benches for SunTran commuters.

Work is being done on the Washington City portion of the recently named George Washington Boulevard (formerly 3650 South). The city is working to extend a portion of the road that runs toward the Southern Parkway where it will connect with a new, yet-to-be-built interchange. Work on the extension is projected to conclude in August.

As for the new interchange, Washington City is working with UDOT on the project which may begin construction in 2024.

Hurricane

Work is underway on 2800 West and it is slated to conclude in the spring. This will connect 2800 West to the Southern Parkway north of state Route 9.

At the 2023 Dixie Regional Transportation Expo, St. George, Utah, Feb. 7, 2023 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

Another project that just began covers 700 West from 100 North to 600 North, with a roundabout planned for 100 North and 700 West.

Ivins

Ivins is focused on the part of Old Dixie Highway 91 that runs through it. Plans for the old highway include upgrading intersections along the roadway to include deceleration lanes and dedicated left-turn lanes. New roundabouts will also be placed at the intersections of 400 West and 600 West.

New bicycles lanes will also be added on either side of Old Dixie Highway 91, along with a multipurpose trail running from 200 West up to the Shivwits Reservation.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

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