The Utah Department of Transportation announced Thursday that the new Thistle Junction interchange, located where U.S. 89 splits from U.S. 6 in Spanish Fork Canyon, is scheduled to open to traffic by Nov. 30, 2026. The department celebrated the completion of the project on Thursday, Nov. 12, with an event for families who lost loved ones in accidents at the previous intersection, marking a milestone for one of the state's most dangerous junctions.
A New Design for Safety
The new grade-separated interchange replaces a T intersection that UDOT identified as a significant safety hazard. The design features U.S. 6 crossing over U.S. 89 on a bridge, with U.S. 89 running through a new underpass. Drivers will transition between the two highways using new ramps equipped with longer acceleration and deceleration lanes, a configuration intended to separate turning and merging traffic from high-speed through traffic on U.S. 6.
Addressing a Dangerous Intersection
The intersection has been a site of significant loss. UDOT reported that five fatal crashes at or near the junction have resulted in eight deaths since 2003. The primary danger involved drivers traveling north on U.S. 89 who were required to make a left turn across U.S. 6, a highway that carries heavy truck and recreational traffic at high speeds between Utah Valley and eastern Utah.
Commemorating Lost Lives
In lieu of a traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony, the UDOT event held Thursday, Nov. 12, featured families using bullhorns to mark the milestone before taking the first steps through the new underpass. The ceremony was held at the site in Spanish Fork Canyon, where families of crash victims were invited to participate. UDOT provided families with shadow boxes containing miniature replicas of the original rock memorial located at the junction, which was removed to facilitate construction.
A Family's Advocacy
Amy Marcus, who lost her 16-year-old daughter, Katie, and 12-year-old son, Taylor, in a 2014 crash while driving home to South Ogden from Mt. Pleasant, suggested the idea for the commemorative event. Marcus, who met with UDOT a few years before the project began, expressed relief regarding the completion of the work.
"They did such a good job," Marcus told the Daily Herald. "It's a huge relief knowing that no one can die again taking a left-hand turn."
Accelerated Construction Timeline
The project was completed significantly faster than initially anticipated. While the main construction phase began in late April 2026, nine months were shaved off the projected construction timeline to ensure the interchange was ready before the 2026-2027 winter season. UDOT project manager Tyler Faddis attributed the accelerated timeline to the collaboration between UDOT, the design engineer, and the contractor, noting that the contractor was incentivized to meet the early completion date.
Driver Expectations and Weather
Despite the early completion, UDOT warned that incoming weather could still affect the exact timing of the opening. Project manager Tyler Faddis, a Sanpete County resident who frequently uses the junction, stated he hoped to see traffic using the new interchange within a week of the celebration.
Until the transition to the new ramps is complete, drivers should expect the existing one-lane-eachway pattern near the junction. UDOT has recommended that travelers check the UDOT Traffic app or udottraffic.utah.gov for live conditions and suggests traveling during off-peak hours to avoid delays.
Ongoing U.S. 6 Improvements
The Thistle Junction interchange is part of a broader, long-term effort to improve U.S. 6. UDOT stated it has invested more than $150 million in U.S. 6 over the last two decades for projects including widening, median barriers, and intersection upgrades.
Other ongoing or planned works include $53.4 million in improvements from Chicken Hollow to Tie Fork, expected to finish in 2027, and pavement and bridge repairs from Price River to Middle Mountain, which are expected to be completed by the end of this year.
