Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
UDOT intersection project delayed after engineers’ estimate doubles; city pushes for separate bike‑lane work
Summary
City staff said UDOT's Fort Union–Wasatch intersection design is roughly 100% over budget (initial allocation cited at about $60 million), so the full reconstruction has been deferred while UDOT pursues funding; staff said UDOT will try to advance a standalone bike‑lane element and the city requested a 10‑foot trail buffer in designs.
City staff updated the council on the Fort Union–Wasatch intersection project UDOT brought forward for design and funding. The project includes turn‑lane changes, bicycle lanes and trail work, but staff reported UDOT’s engineers’ estimate exceeds available funding by approximately 100 percent, prompting UDOT to defer the full intersection reconstruction for now.
Staff said UDOT remains engaged in a plan‑in‑hand review — the step before bidding — but is exploring funding alternatives and has ‘peeled off’ the bicycle‑lane portion of the work as a candidate for near‑term delivery. City staff emphasized the council’s preference for a wider multi‑use trail, asking for at least a 10‑foot trail with a large buffer to protect cyclists and pedestrians from traffic.
Councilmembers pressed for the project diagrams and said neighborhoods should have an opportunity to review the design details. Staff warned that if the council approves a rezone or other land‑use approvals, the developer may be entitled to by‑right options and that development agreements could be used to bind design commitments if the council wants to guarantee specific elements.
Staff said they will continue to press UDOT for the bike‑lane element and will return with updates when funding or a schedule becomes clearer.
