Veronica PiscitelliThe Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) is introducing plans to widen a portion of Interstate 15 (I-15) through St. George. The estimated $195 million project includes adding two new underpasses, constructing new lanes and addressing drainage issues.
The funds will support an effort to widen a 2.5-mile stretch of I-15 between St. George Boulevard (Exit 8) and Bluff Street (Exit 6). The project will add an additional lane on each side, bringing the total lanes to three in each direction. The road will be widened to the middle to avoid substantial property impacts. It will also replace structures at 100 South and 700 South and address stormwater drainage problems. Project officials anticipate the project will improve traffic flows and connecte neighborhoods in the area. Currently, the stretch sees 60,000 vehicles per day, but that number is projected to increase to 94,500 by 2050.
Additionally, as part of the I-15 project, two new underpasses have been proposed at 400 East and 900 S. The connections would allow pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles to cross under I-15, something that is currently only possible at busy intersection of Bluff Street and 700 South. The underpasses will also be designed to relieve congestion in the downtown area around Dixie Middle School and Dixie High School and provide a more direct route to the schools for students living in the area.
Sound walls may be included in the project, depending on the results of a noise analysis conducted by UDOT. As a federal mandate, since the project is receiving federal funds, if barriers can reduce noise by at least five decibels and are both feasible and reasonable to be built
into the project construction, then nearby residents will be allowed to vote on whether the sound walls are built.
UDOT held for residents and stakeholders to weigh potential benefits and concerns as well as review maps, environmental reports and potential design features. If needed, those close to the roadway will receive a ballot in the mail to vote on potential sound walls. To pass, 75% of the ballots must be returned and of those returned 75% must be in favor of the walls if they are to be built.
The original proposal of the I-15 widening project included a new interchange at 700 South. Although this feature was proposed and designed, it did not move forward due to a lack of funding. The $87.6 million allocated to design and build the two new underpasses is fully funded. The money comes from the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods grant that was awarded to Utah in 2024. This funding was established as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to reconnect neighborhoods split by the interstate. The project’s remaining costs are provided through state transportation investment funds.
Construction of the project is expected to begin once the design phase is completed in 2026. The overall widening project is set to be finished by late 2028. Details on the project, photo transformations and maps can be found here.
Photo by Ali Shirvani from Pexels
