Construction Update: July 16, 2026
 

A piece of rock saw equipment in Zion National Park. 

Through July 23, you can expect to see crews, equipment, and traffic control in the following areas:

  • SR-9 Milepost (MP) 4 to 5 (Hurricane)
  • SR-9 MP 28-29 (Rockville)
  • SR-9/Zion-Mount Carmel Highway MP 32-35 (west side of the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel)

All work will pause at 3 PM on Thursday, July 23 in observance of Pioneer Day. Work will resume at 9 AM on Monday, July 27. 

Current Active Work Area in Hurricane

 

Current Active Work Area in Zion National Park and Rockville

 

In Hurricane:

  • Crews will continue trenching underneath the roadway, installing junction boxes (conduit connectors that provide access points), and routing conduit around existing utility lines along the shoulder of eastbound SR-9.
  • No direct impacts to drivers are anticipated. 

In Rockville:

  • Crews will be drilling for conduit installation.
  • No direct impacts to drivers are anticipated.

In Zion National Park:

  • Crews will continue sawing and backfilling the roadway in the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway roadway to install fiber conduit and junction boxes.
  • Traffic will be reduced to one lane controlled by portable signals and flaggers.
  • Visitors should anticipate moderate traffic delays.*

Heads up: work in Springdale is expected to begin on July 27, 2026. Please anticipate moderate delays with one-way traffic and pedestrian detours. 

*Construction schedules are subject to change due to weather, utility, and material delays.

Project Overview

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), in partnership with the National Parks Service, is undertaking a significant project to install middle-mile fiber optics to support last-mile connectivity to communities along State Route 9 and the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway. This initiative is part of UDOT's broader effort to expand and modernize the state's fiber optic infrastructure, enhancing connectivity and supporting Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) throughout Utah. 

Work began on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.

Key Components

  1. Fiber Optic Cable Installation: Over 50 miles of new fiber optic cable will be installed to connect key ITS devices and improve broadband access.
  2. ITS Support: The fiber optic network will support various ITS devices, including traffic cameras, road signs, and weather stations, enhancing real-time traffic management and incident response.
  3. Environmental Considerations: The project will implement environmentally friendly construction practices to minimize the impact on Zion National Park's natural landscape and ecosystem.
  4. Partnerships: Partnering with local telecommunications companies to jointly use infrastructure and lower expenses.

Watch the video below to learn more about the benefits of fiber!

Project Map

Map of the Zion Fiber Optics project corridor in southwestern Utah, showing State Route 9 from Interstate 15 and Hurricane through La Verkin, Virgin, Rockville, Springdale, Zion National Park, and Mt. Carmel Junction. The corridor is color-coded to identify project segments, including UDOT sections in Hurricane, Rockville, and Springdale, the Zion Canyon segment within the park, and the Zion–Mt. Carmel Highway.

 

Photos from Past Fiber Installation Projects

Roadside construction along a mountain highway with equipment, traffic barrels, and a worker in safety gear.Aerial view of road construction in a desert area with heavy machinery and workers along the roadway.Worker in high‑visibility safety gear walking beside a trailer carrying large coiled materials at a construction site.
Wide view of highway construction in a desert landscape, with heavy equipment and vehicles working along the roadway below rocky hills.Aerial view of large construction equipment and support vehicles working along a highway in a desert landscape with rocky hills in the background. Aerial view of road construction with a large yellow machine, workers in safety gear, and support trucks parked nearby.
Aerial view of highway construction with heavy equipment and vehicles working in the median of a divided road through a dry landscape.Construction equipment working in a desert area with rocky terrain, showing machinery and workers on a graded site under clear skies.Construction activity along a desert highway, with heavy equipment, support vehicles, and materials staged beside the road with hills in the background.

Sign up for email updates!

Schedule

complete
complete

Final Design: Spring 2026

live
live

Start of Construction: June 2026

planned
planned

End of Construction: Winter 2026

This work is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.*

*Schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions and material availability.

Contact Information

To contact the public information team with questions or concerns:

Hotline: 855-663-6800

Email: zioncanyontechnology@utah.gov

Stay Informed

To receive weekly construction updates, please contact the public information team at the email address above and enter "Weekly Updates" in the subject line, or sign up by submitting your information through the form at the bottom of the page.