UDOT: Heber Valley Corridor traffic projections surge, delaying plans

UDOT has discovered that its 2050 traffic projections for the Heber Valley Corridor are 30% higher than previously estimated on North US-40, forcing the agency to pause and reevaluate all five remaining alternatives to accommodate the increase in traffic volume.

HEBER CITY, Utah — The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) has discovered its 2050 traffic projections for the Heber Valley Corridor are 30% higher than previously estimated on North US-40, forcing a pause in the planning process while the agency determines how to accommodate the increased volume.

The details: All five remaining alternatives for the corridor project now require significant modifications to handle the higher traffic predictions. UDOT must evaluate what additional improvements each alternative needs, which could include extra travel lanes, frontage roads on North US-40, and grade-separated intersections where vehicles would not need to stop at crossings.

“Because our decisions will have long term ramifications, we believe it is critical to take the time to make the best decisions possible,” UDOT stated in a project update. “Decisions made with this EIS will shape transportation in the Heber Valley through 2050 and beyond.”

Next steps: To move forward, UDOT must first complete several key steps. The agency needs to evaluate how each alternative performs against existing screening criteria, including Level of Service, travel times, and queue lengths. Engineers will then determine the full extent of additional improvements needed for each option to meet the project’s purpose with the new traffic volumes.

UDOT will provide monthly updates at Heber City and Wasatch County Council meetings during this revision period. If the required changes to the alternatives are substantial, the agency will provide an opportunity for public review and comment on the new designs.

The project timeline will remain uncertain until UDOT completes its analysis of what modifications are needed. The agency emphasized that any selected alternative must not only solve current transportation needs but also accommodate growth well beyond 2050.