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South Jordan Journal

UDOT to begin construction on 11400 South and Bangerter

Mar 28, 2017 10:46AM ● By Briana Kelley

This is a bird’s-eye rendering of what 11400 South and Bangerter Highway will look like from the northbound direction. Construction is scheduled to end in the Fall of 2018. (UDOT)

By Briana Kelley | [email protected]

Construction on 11400 South and Bangerter Highway is scheduled to begin this May. Representatives from the Utah Department of Transportation and the design-build contractor Ralph L. Wadsworth Company and W.W. Clyde attended South Jordan’s Feb. 21 council meeting to answer questions and concerns about the upcoming project.

“This is one of four interchanges that we’ll start this year,” UDOT Public Information Officer John Gleason said. “This is a continued effort to take Bangerter to the next level and turn it into an expressway with freeway-style interchanges.”

There are ongoing property acquisitions, home demolitions and preliminary utility work between now and May. During late May and early June, full-scale construction will begin on the project. It’s estimated completion will be in the fall of 2018.

The oval-about on 11400 South will also be removed as part of the project and will be replaced with two stoplights on either end. Construction on the oval-about will begin in the fall of this year and continue throughout the project’s duration.

“This is an area where that [traffic] flow is crucial,” Gleason said. “We’ve experienced a tremendous amount of growth in the past years, and that growth is going to continue over the next few decades. We will double our population in the next 35 years. It is important that transportation keeps up with that growth and keeps up with current and future needs for getting people around the valley.”

Though representatives admit that construction will be long and inconvenient, they are doing what they can to mitigate disturbances. The project will be phased so that traffic can flow during construction. Contractors do not foresee the need to close either Bangerter Highway or 11400 South during construction.

Businesses will also be open and accessible to residents, and the contractor assured council members that none are being acquired or closed for construction. There will be access points for all businesses, though admittedly it will not be perfect.

“When you’re talking about residents and businesses, any time you have a construction project you will always have short-term inconveniences,” Gleason said. “The goal and the end result will be worth those inconveniences. It will improve traffic flow and decrease congestion. It will improve north–south traffic and east–west traffic as well.”

In order to continue the flow of 11400 South and keep it aesthetically pleasing, the contractor has designed the road to continue over Bangerter Highway. Bangerter Highway will go underneath as an underpass. There will be safe pedestrian crossings and sidewalks as part of the 11400 South bridge.

“We hope that this type of interchange will improve safety as well,” Gleason said. “Intersections are where we see a large number of crashes, and there’s more of a chance that you’ll be involved in a crash at an intersection. If you can take away some of these conflict points, you can increase safety.”

Residents and commuters wanting updates can sign up for a mailing list specific to Bangerter and 11400 South online at www.udot.utah.gov/bangerter11400south/. Those who do not wish to receive emails can check back on the website for updates on the project as well as any community events.

There will also be a community coordination team assembled to provide monthly input and feedback to the contractor. The team will represent various stakeholders and include a representative from South Jordan City, the District businesses, the west-side businesses and a local resident.

The contractor is working with South Jordan City officials as well and is aware of upcoming community events, such as the SoJo Marathon and Tour of Utah. The project is being funded entirely with state funds.

“The end result here is going to be worth any type of short-term inconveniences that we are going to see with construction,” Gleason said. “When the project is complete and all is said and done, we really hope it’s going to provide a benefit to homeowners and businesses in the area and for those commuting through.”