Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — It may seem like construction doesn't have an "off" season in Salt Lake City — when one project wraps up, another kicks off.
The newest project is construction at 900 East and 900 South.
It's an area that's usually packed with bikers, walkers, and shoppers, is now filled with a blocked-off intersection, construction workers, and sounds of change.
"The purpose of that is to slow down traffic a little bit and make 900 South more of a destination road than a commuter road," said deputy city engineer Josh Willie.
Willie said the short-term construction is worth the long-term changes coming to 900 South.
"There wasn't really any room for bikers behind the curb so any bikers were either in the roadway or they were trying to mix with pedestrians if they were on the sidewalk," Willie added.
Now both bicyclists and pedestrians will get their own lanes, along with utility improvements, pavement replacements, traffic combing and reducing east and westbound lanes to one lane in each direction along 900 South.
"We are also improving transit amenities — a lot of new bus stops and improving existing bus stops. We are doing a lot to calm the traffic so it makes it safer for pedestrians and cyclists and everyone along the corridor." Willie said.
This stretch of 900 South will eventually connect with the rest of the "nine-line trail corridor," eventually going from the Hogle Zoo to Redwood Road.
The intersection at 900 East and 900 South will reopen to vehicles on Sept. 7. The entire project should be completed in a couple of months.
