Construction on Bangerter Highway continues as UDOT preps for bigger changes
Oct 2, 2023, 4:00 PM
Contruction at 4700 South and Bangerter. (Becky Bruce/KSL NewsRadio)
(Becky Bruce/KSL NewsRadio)
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Department of Transportation is finishing its preparations to turn more of Bangerter Highway into a non-stop freeway. That final prep work includes utility work, which accounts for the construction sites that are currently active.
UDOT Spokesperson John Gleason said starting this spring, they’ll be turning 4700 South, 9800 South, 13400 South as well as 2700 West, into freeway-style interchanges meant to accommodate more drivers.
“Bangerter Highway is one of the most heavily traveled highways in the western part of Salt Lake County,” Gleason said. “We see — probably even more so now — at least 60,000 vehicles every day and that’s going to continue to grow.”
Some of the construction sites drivers have probably spotted are for UDOT’s utility preparations ahead of the project.
For example, people can see workers at 4700 South right now shifting an aqueduct to accommodate the future interchange.
A future step to prepare for the interchange includes removing the traffic lights at all those intersections.
“By taking out that traffic signal and making it more of a freeway-style interchange, we’re really going to see an improvement in the way that people get around,” Gleason said, adding that taking the stoplights away also helps reduce conflict points.
Once UDOT is ready for the main project, Gleason said they’ll cut off east and west traffic at the intersections and leave the lights up for the time being.
UDOT expects to finish in late 2025.
