Major Construction On US 40 Underway, Aims To Reduce Deadly Crashes
Jul 26, 2019, 5:50 PM
WASATCH COUNTY, Utah – A major construction project is underway this summer on US 40 in Wasatch County that should improve safety and mobility for motorists and wildlife. It’s part of a multi-year plan to reduce dangerous and deadly crashes.
Each year, there are several fatal crashes on the stretch of US 40 from Daniel’s Summit to the far end of Strawberry Reservoir, at Soldier Creek.
There have already been four fatal crashes this year – one earlier this month.
“Our goal is always zero fatalities,“ said Geoff Dupaix, UDOT Communications Manager.
And keeping moose, elk and deer off of that part of US 40 would help.
“There’s a large volume of deer and elk migration,” said Dupaix, Especially in the area of the Summit.
The two lane highway is also the main connector for people from the Uintah Basin to the Wasatch Front.
“It carries a wide variety of traffic and you see a lot of different types of vehicles on that roadway,“ he said.
From cars and SUVs, to recreational vehicles and double tanker trucks.
A wildlife underpass under construction just east of Daniel’s Summit should help keep the humans and the wildlife from colliding so often. UDOT is also rebuilding 17 miles of the pavement surface and adding five miles to a westbound climbing and passing lane approaching the summit from the east.
“So, by building this wildlife crossing in the same area where we are building the passing lane, that’s another way that we are at enhancing safety for the traveling public,“ said Dupaix.
It is larger than a couple of similar wildlife underpasses already in use in Provo Canyon. Tall fencing will be installed to help guide the wildlife to the crossing.
“It really helps them focus in and cross in a safer location,“ said Dupaix.
More than two-thirds of the crashes they’ve seen over a nine year period in this stretch are single vehicle crashes, where someone was either driving drowsy, drunk or distracted, or ran into wildlife.
Other crashes happen when motorists are too impatient and pass on the two lane road when they shouldn’t.
“By building these passing lanes, it’s part of a multi-year effort to enhance safety. So, drivers as they drive the road will have more opportunities to pass those slower moving vehicles, those RVs, those trucks a lot more safely.”
Road crews will be working on the $37 million project through November. Next spring, they’ll finish off the rest of the project.
