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UDOT outlines highway safety projects and a 100‑mile US‑40 fiber build for the Uinta Basin
Summary
UDOT said a recently completed public‑private highway realignment saved roughly $40 million by using Simplot material moves, described Indian Canyon safety and passing-lane work, and outlined a 100+ mile US‑40 fiber‑optic project to improve broadband and ITS connectivity across the basin.
Larry Montoya, project manager for UDOT Region 3, presented a package of transportation and broadband projects for the Uinta Basin.
Montoya highlighted a public‑private partnership north of Vernal on US‑191 to eliminate hazardous switchbacks. Simplot moved about 10,000,000 cubic yards of material to form the new alignment; UDOT reported the two‑phase construction on a roughly $24,000,000 budget and estimated about $40,000,000 in savings to taxpayers compared with placing all material themselves.
Montoya also reviewed the Indian Canyon improvements (added passing lanes, widened shoulders and chain‑up areas) and a range of US‑40 corridor projects that include extended passing lanes, intersection turn‑lanes, and safety upgrades. He said many projects are staged and some final paving and ITS work will continue into the next construction season.
On broadband, Montoya described a US‑40 fiber‑optic installation that will exceed 100 miles and be delivered in segmented bid packages (segment A: Heber to Soldier Creek; segment B: Soldier Creek to Duchesne; segment C: Duchesne to Fort Duchesne; segment D: Fort Duchesne to the Colorado line). UDOT plans Wi‑Fi hotspot locations and improved ITS connectivity for road weather, camera access and maintenance operations.
Montoya invited participants to consult UDOT project pages for detailed timelines and contacts and said the program aims to finish major fiber design and initial contracting within the next year to 18 months.
