Transit transformation or traffic nightmare? $168 million in road construction coming to SR-224

Road crews have begun removing the median on SR 224 as part of the BRT construction. Photo: TownLift

Locals should expect detours, delays, and years of construction as UDOT and High Valley Transit reshape Park City’s main traffic corridor in hopes of easing congestion long term.

PARK CITY, Utah — Two major road construction projects are set to dramatically impact traffic flow on SR. 224 for years to come.

UDOT SR-224 and I-80 transportation improvement plan

After about five years of study, the Utah Department of Transportation has selected a plan to ease congestion and improve safety at Kimball Junction. The department announced a package of intersection upgrades and pedestrian enhancements that will keep the existing interchange largely intact while adding new lanes, bike routes, and a pedestrian underpass.

The upgrades are intended to ease peak-hour bottlenecks that have long frustrated drivers and to make the corridor safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

The study area encompassed the I-80 and SR-224 interchange and continued along SR-224 from Kimball Junction through the Olympic Parkway intersection.

After considering three options for improvements, UDOT decided on Alternative C, which will implement signal improvements and widen areas of existing pavement while keeping most of the existing Kimball Junction area layout and pavement in place.

The project is estimated to cost approximately $48.5 million, and next steps include final design and construction. UDOT has not released a start or finish date for the project, but says updates will be coming after they have completed the final design.

Key features of the project

• I-80 Ramps:Additional lane to the eastbound off-ramp to SR-224, a dedicated right turn lane to southbound SR-224, and an additional lane on the eastbound on-ramp from SR-224.
• SR-224 Intersections:Improvements at Ute Boulevard and Olympic Parkway, including added turn lanes, additional through travel lanes, and bike lanes.
• Roundabouts & Local Roads: A second lane was added to the southern approach of the Ute Boulevard/Landmark Drive roundabout, and a new lane from SR-224 on Newpark Boulevard to the Olympic Parkway roundabout.
• Pedestrian & Bicycle Improvements:New east-west pedestrian underpass under SR-224 near Ute Boulevard, new buffered bike lanes from Olympic Parkway to Rasmussen Road, and trail connections to the pedestrian undercrossing.

Taken together, these changes are expected to have the greatest reduction in travel delays and faster travel speeds during peak periods. They also found that this project results in a more reasonable expenditure of funds considering the anticipated benefits.

Alignment with SR-224 BRT project

This project announcement comes as UDOT prepares to widen SR-224 for the upcoming Bus Rapid Transit project that will build a new bus lane in both directions for High Valley Transit vehicles. The BRT is estimated to cost $119.2 million, and construction will span the next two to three years.

The bus lane extension will run to the Kimball Junction Transit Center, located between Olympic and Ute Blvd, meaning project areas will overlap. Although, it’s uncertain whether the construction timelines of the projects will overlap in that area.

As both the $48.5 million intersection project and the $119 million BRT expansion move forward, Kimball Junction will likely see years of construction. Transportation officials say the improvements will ultimately deliver faster commutes and safer travel, but in the meantime, drivers, cyclists, and transit riders should brace for detours and delays.

Construction begins on SR-224 Bus Rapid Transit project in Park City