UDOT: Drivers Will See Traffic and Congestion Around Golden Spike Events, Should Plan Ahead
May 9, 2019, 7:00 PM | Updated: 7:07 pm
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — If you’re headed out to Golden Spike National Historical Park for the main commemoration tomorrow morning, you should already have a plan in place. UDOT and event organizers are expecting 10,000 people for the Golden Spike Sesquicentennial 150 commemoration, and all of the parking passes are already sold out.
UDOT has been working on traffic plans with other partners ON the event for three months.
UDOT regularly plans for all kinds of major traffic events like the Stadium of Fire and the Hill Air Force Base Airshow, but this big traffic event takes place at the end of a rural road with no services. So, they need spectators to do some planning too.
“It’s going to be really busy,” said Lisa Miller, UDOT Traveler Information Manager. “So plan ahead, and give yourself extra time if you’re heading that direction.”
The main events tomorrow at the Golden Spike National Historical Park will create a lot of traffic. Planners expect congestion to pick up after 7 a.m. on Promontory Road.
“Part of the challenge is that it’s a rural road,” said Corey Coulam, UDOT Control Room Manager.
When motorists leave the interstate east of Corinne they’ll make the rest of the trip west to Promontory on two-lane State Road 83.
“We are expecting some congestion on the roadway because parking is limited and there’s going to be a lot of folks going all at once,” said Coulam. “So a really big challenge, especially with this event, is a lot of folks stuck on a rural road without access to services. Safety is probably our biggest concern.“
It’s 25 miles from Corinne to Promontory Summit with no public transportation, no services or gasoline and limited cell phone service.
“Make sure you have supplies in your car,” said Miller. “Make sure you have enough fuel because it’s a 50 mile round-trip from the freeway up to Promontory Point.“
All 2,500 parking passes for the Golden Spike Sesquicentennial celebration are sold out.
“I would not plan on attending that event if you don’t already have a parking pass,” said Coulam.
You will be turned around without one, he said. You can easily pick another event in Ogden.
If you have a parking pass and you’re driving out, look for the pre-event messages on overhead and temporary signs out on the interstate.
You can also follow UDOT on social media, and download their traffic app for real-time traffic information on congestion.
“Keeping people moving is going to be really important,” said Coulam. “But, it’s bound to happen. There’s bound to be issues just with that volume of people and that volume of traffic, eventually something will happen. We hope not. But, that’s typical.“
Plan ahead, pack well, leave early, and consult the UDOT traffic app when traffic starts to slow.
