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Planning commission hears progress report on parkway, reservoir and reservoir-related roadwork
Summary
Staff told the Toquerville Planning Commission construction on the new parkway and reservoir is ongoing, with temporary one‑lane travel at tie‑ins through mid‑August and contractors forecasting substantial completion of heavy work by mid‑September; the water tank is filled and may be put into service after final flushing.
City planning staff updated the Toquerville Planning Commission on multiple construction projects tied to the new parkway and a reservoir, saying drivers should expect temporary lane reductions for several weeks and that major construction work is expected to wind down in mid‑September.
Emily, the city’s planning and zoning administrator, reminded commissioners of a parkway ribbon cutting scheduled for 8 a.m. the following morning and summarized traffic changes linked to current construction. She said the contract team has phased tie‑ins at both the north and south ends of the parkway and that, for the near term, traffic will be reduced to one lane in places while crews remove existing turning arcs, install storm drains and retaining walls, and construct temporary tie‑ins. Staff and a contractor representative said they expect traffic to begin using portions of the new parkway in late July to mid‑August, with major construction activity continuing until roughly mid‑September.
Darren, a city staff member who described sequencing details, said contractors will use jersey barriers and temporary traffic controls to create single‑lane tie‑ins and temporary stop conditions at T intersections. He described the parkway intersection geometry as T intersections with stop signs and a nonstop flow on the new parkway itself, and said deceleration lanes will be provided at some turning locations.
The commission also heard project updates on several related items: Firelight (the developer) has agreed in principle to an ingress‑egress easement across part of its property to create temporary access from Westfield Road; planners expect to grade the dirt route with recycled asphalt millings where paving funds are not available; and model‑home openings and other temporary uses on site are being timed to the roadway opening.
On the reservoir and water system, staff reported the new tank has been filled and drained for internal inspection and repairs. "They drained it and went inside and epoxied every crack that they could see," Emily said, and staff said backflow testing and other checks have been completed; the tank may be put into service later in the week pending final flushing and checks.
Commissioners were shown drone imagery and several construction photos of the reservoir site. Staff described two dams on the project — a Cofferdam and the main structure — and estimated the dam will be roughly 140–150 feet at its deepest point and that excavation and earthwork in some areas will continue for about two years. Staff said contractors are placing substantial soils and keyway work at the dam base and are using material from nearby borrow areas and tailings for other parts of the project.
On traffic control items that require outside review, staff said the signal at the Sat Brothers intersection is awaiting final comments from the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and that the city has limited authority until UDOT clears final redlines.
The presentation closed with staff urging public patience during the tie‑ins and reminding commissioners the contractor had forecast mid‑September as the target for major construction vehicle demobilization.
