St. George Mayor Jimmie Hughes is praising a recent $23.5 million BUILD grant award for two planned Interstate 15 underpasses at 400 East and 900 South.
In a statement, Hughes said I-15 has acted as a wall through the heart of St. George for too long, dividing neighborhoods and pushing drivers onto a limited number of congested crossings.
The mayor stated that the two new underpasses, along with new six-foot sidewalks, will provide residents with safer and more reliable ways to cross the interstate.
The project is intended to improve local access, reduce congestion, shorten trips, and improve air quality by keeping vehicles moving instead of sitting in backups.
Hughes noted that the timing is important because the Utah Department of Transportation is preparing to rebuild this stretch of I-15. Completing the underpasses at the same time will help get the work done once, rather than forcing residents and businesses to deal with years of repeated construction.
According to UDOT's project page, planned improvements include adding a lane in each direction on I-15 between Bluff Street and St. George Boulevard, raising I-15, and replacing structures at 100 South and 700 South. New local roads would connect 400 East and 900 South beneath the interstate.
Hughes thanked the Trump Administration for prioritizing infrastructure investment in growing communities. He also expressed gratitude to Sen. John Curtis, Rep. Celeste Maloy, Gov. Spencer Cox, and UDOT for supporting the project.
