Officials break ground on Brigham City Crossing overpass to reconnect east and west sides

Brigham City officials and state lawmakers held a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Brigham City Crossing overpass in Brigham City, not specified, marking the start of construction on a project leaders say will remove a long-standing Union Pacific rail crossing that divides the city.

City and county officials and state legislators said the overpass is intended to reconnect the city’s east and west sides, reduce traffic delays caused by freight trains, and address public-safety concerns after an emergency vehicle once could not cross the tracks. "It has been a decade trying to get us to this point," Commissioner Renton said, calling the event "a great opportunity" and saying the project will provide economic growth and make Main Street "more viable and more productive."

The city credited state legislative action that changed a fuel tax exemption as a funding source for the project. Joel Ferry, who described himself as now working in the Utah Department of Natural Resources and who helped shepherd the funding, said the change to the fuel-tax exemption directed revenue to projects like the overpass. "We're actually gonna put that money to good work," Ferry said, adding that Brigham City was "first in line" for funds that will pay for the overpass.

Speakers at the ceremony said safety and downtown impacts motivated the project. Commissioner Renton recounted an incident in which emergency vehicles were delayed because a train blocked crossings; he said responders had to reroute using the freeway. City leaders said the overpass will reduce the time drivers spend waiting at the rail crossing and is expected to support development on both sides of town.

Officials estimated the project’s cost at about $30,000,000 and said the construction remained on budget despite recent inflation. City representatives thanked contractors, Union Pacific for participating in the ceremony, and local property owners — including Big J Mill and the McKinnon property — for cooperating on right-of-way and property exchanges necessary for the work.

Construction and property work will continue before the public benefits are realized; officials invited attendees to turn soil and join a brief reception after the ceremony. Brigham City leaders said the overpass will take time to build and that the fire department will not need to detour around the rail once the project is finished in the approximate timeline discussed at the event.