UDOT commission adds Wellsville US‑89/91 pedestrian underpass to STIP after mayor’s plea
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Summary
Wellsville’s mayor urged UDOT to address a dangerous crossing on US‑89/91; the commission approved adding a pedestrian and bicycle underpass (box culvert) to the STIP after staff described scope and constructability, with commissioners noting overpass costs could exceed $50 million.
The Utah Transportation Commission voted to add a pedestrian and bicycle underpass on US‑89/91 near Wellsville to the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) after testimony from the city’s mayor and a staff presentation on constructability and costs.
Mayor Chad Lindley of Wellsville told the commission the highway “really divides the city” and asked the state to appropriate funds for an underpass to allow children and residents to safely walk and bike under the highway rather than crossing the five‑lane, high‑speed road. UDOT staff described the project scope as a box culvert sized for both pedestrians and cyclists and said the underpass would be located near the mouth of Wellsville Canyon to remove a barrier to vulnerable users.
Rob White, UDOT’s Region 1 director, said a full grade‑separated overpass would be far more expensive and could range “anywhere from $50,000,000 up to over $100,000,000,” and staff said the underpass option is more feasible in the near term. Ivan Hartle, financial programming for the department, moved to add the Wellsville underpass project to the STIP; the motion carried on a voice vote.
Commissioners asked staff to work with Wellsville on the exact location to avoid interfering with potential future interchange work and to consider constructability options (half‑at‑a‑time construction vs. precast elements) given limited access routes into Cache Valley. Commissioner comments repeatedly stressed funding constraints and the department’s priority to maximize safety with available resources.
The commission did not record a roll‑call tally in the transcript; the packet and minutes reflect the motion passed by voice vote. Staff told the commission they will bring project details, locations and design estimates forward in subsequent programming discussions.
What’s next: The project was added to the STIP; staff will refine the alignment and cost estimates and coordinate with Wellsville on right‑of‑way and scheduling before returning with implementation details.