The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) is designing improvements for US-89 (300 South) in Provo between University Avenue and 500 West. The project's goals are to improve the roadway and underground infrastructure while providing better transportation options for all kinds of road users. 
The project plans to reconstruct the roadway between University Avenue and 500 West in a similar layout as previous projects on U.S. 89 in Provo (500 West and 300 South) have done.
 
The project team plans to improve the corridor by:
  • Replacing 300 South asphalt with concrete pavement
  • Upgrading the roadway drainage system with storm drain, curb and gutter
  • Replacing aged underground utilities including sewer and culinary water
  • Adding new pedestrian/bicycle crosswalks in several locations
  • Widening the sidewalk on the north side of 300 South to 5'
  • Reconstructing driveway approaches
  • Adding on-street bicycle lanes
  • Installing "bump-outs" on 400 West to reduce the crossing distance at intersections without painted crosswalks
  • Installing raised medians between blocks to improve safety
  • *In locations with existing buildings at the back of sidewalk, widening will be required if or when those properties are redeveloped.
 
The map below shows the project area.

UDOT, Provo City and the project team have been working to incorporate public feedback into the project design since the open house in August 2022, including a recent site visit with Franklin Elementary School, area residents, and businesses in December. An update on the project design, schedule and potential impacts is below.

Project Schedule: In an effort to limit impacts to the public, the project team has decided to postpone construction until 2024. Ideally, this will allow for the project contractor to build the project in one construction season instead of having the work span across the winter.
 
Raised medians: The project team has spent recent months deliberating how to improve safety on 300 South while balancing public concern about raised medians. The original project design called for raised medians from 500 West to University Avenue. In December 2022, we announced that the medians would be removed from the section between 500 West and about 350 West. After additional study, UDOT has confirmed that the medians must be installed in this section in compliance with Federal and State engineering requirements. We apologize for any confusion this process may have caused, but feel that this is the best choice to improve safety for two additional reasons:
  • Traffic on US-89 in Provo is projected to more than double by the year 2039, growing from an average of 32,000 vehicles per day in 2019 to 66,200 vehicles per day in 2039.  
  • Crash data on US-89 in the section where medians were installed in 2016 shows an overall reduction in crashes by 50%, and a reduction in injury crashes of 66%.
 
We understand that travelers will have to adjust their routes when the raised medians are installed. However, the safety benefits outweigh the inconvenience of changes in routing. Provo City plans to begin a traffic study in the downtown area to better address changes to routing throughout this part of the City.
 
Sidewalks will be replaced and widened to 5 feet on both sides of the roadway wherever possible. In locations with existing buildings at the back of the sidewalk, widening will be required if or when those properties are redeveloped. The project team will need temporary permission from property owners for the contractor to enter their property in order to construct the new sidewalk and driveway approaches. UDOT's right-of-way team will begin contacting property owners this spring to discuss this access, which would be granted by a Temporary Construction Easement (TCE). Property owners where TCEs are needed will be contacted by the project team directly.
 

Construction Access/Easements:

The project team will need temporary permission from property owners for the contractor to enter their property in order to construct the new sidewalk and driveway approaches. UDOT's right-of-way team will begin contacting property owners this spring to discuss this access, which would be granted by a Temporary Construction Easement (TCE). Property owners where TCE's are needed will be contacted by the project team directly.

What Stayed the Same

  • On-street parking will be removed to make space for sidewalk widening and on-street bicycle lanes.
  • Bicycle and pedestrian crossings at 100 West and 300 West remain in the planned improvements. This will prohibit left turn turns between these streets and 300 South for safety. Plans for 100 West currently prioritize walking and biking. Provo City, UTA and other partners are working together to construct a pedestrian bridge over the rail tracks near 600 South to better service the FrontRunner and Amtrak Stations. This pedestrian bridge when combined with other improvements along 100 West, like the bicycle/pedestrian crossing at 300 South, will provide a direct walking and biking connection from the transit hub to Downtown Provo.

 

live
live
Design

Summer 2023

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planned
Project Advertisement

Winter 2023

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planned
Construction

2024

FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLIC INQUIRIES

Project Hotline: 888-556-0232

Email: provo300s@utah.gov