Plan to rebuild, expand I-15 moves forward despite opposition from Westside, others in region

UDOT is currently looking at rebuilding and expanding nearly 20 miles of I-15 from 400 South in Salt Lake City to Shepard Lane in Farmington. Map courtesy of UDOT.

A controversial plan to rebuild and expand I-15 through parts of Salt Lake City and Davis County is moving forward with new changes, although local residents, businesses, and organizations remain skeptical of the state’s desire to add more lanes to the freeway.

In November 2022, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) released the first part of the I-15 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which looked at overhauling nearly 20 miles of the interstate from 400 South in Salt Lake City to Shepard Lane in Farmington. The plan, UDOT said, is to “replace aging infrastructure, improve safety, and meet travel demand in 2050.” The cost? Roughly $1.6 billion – all of which has already been approved and earmarked by the Utah State Legislature.

Almost immediately, backlash arose from community members and leaders on the Westside, who declared their resistance to the state’s plan to add new lanes to the freeway. No one appeared to be against the plan to rebuild the freeway and improve safety; the wide majority of complaints were against the plan to expand I-15.

The original design called for an expansion that would add another one to two lanes of traffic in each direction, bringing the total width of the freeway to 12 lanes. In order to fit the additional lanes, UDOT initially warned that some homes and businesses near the interstate – in both Salt Lake City and Davis County – would need to be demolished or relocated.

In response to the proposal – which directly affected properties in the Rose Park, Fairpark, and Poplar Grove neighborhoods – the Rose Park Community Council released a statement in January 2023, saying in part, “The I-15 expansion directly conflicts with what we already know about the scant availability of places to live – it will further impact and reduce house stock by disproportionately removing living spaces on the Westside in order to make room for more cars.”

HEAL Utah, a community group focused on promoting renewable energy and clean air, shared additional concerns regarding the environmental impacts of freeway expansion. In a statement on their website, they said that the impacts of expanding I-15 “include the potential for increased air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, noise pollution, and destruction of wildlife habitat.”

Following the release of the initial proposal, local and state representatives held listening sessions, UDOT representatives attended community meetings, and residents left hundreds of comments online, with most people vehemently opposing the plan. The feedback was mostly met receptively by those in charge, and a new proposal was published in May 2023. This new plan no longer called for the demolition of homes in order to expand the freeway.

May 2023 draft released, no homes to be destroyed

The current draft plan now calls for one additional lane in each direction, with crews building inwards instead of outwards.

Tiffany Pocock, project manager for UDOT, said her team was aiming to have the least impact possible. “We reviewed the feedback from the community,” said Pocock, “and modified our plans to build into the median.” At the June 2023 listening sessions held at the Utah State Fairpark, Pocock explained further, “At this point, no homes [in Salt Lake City] are set to be taken.”

Looking down on I-15 near 600 North. UDOT is studying the area with the plans to add additional lanes of travel in each direction. This could affect Westside residents living near the freeway. Photo by Elisabeth Cupp.

This does not mean, however, that nearby residents, business owners, and travelers won’t be affected during construction by things like noise, construction dust and debris, and detours. “[We are] concerned about the expansion of I-15,” said the Utah Independent Business Coalition in response to the updated plans released in May 2023, “and both its direct and indirect impacts not only on our environment and homes, but also on our small and independent business community.”

When these concerns about potential impacts were brought up at the June 2023 listening session, UDOT leaders said things like that would be studied, examined, and expounded upon as part of the EIS; the draft of which is set to be released sometime in the Fall of 2023.

The proposed plan does more than just add new lanes of travel; it also looks to add or upgrade several interchanges and underpasses. The plan recommends adding an underpass at 400 North, redesigning the 600 North interchange, adding a new full interchange near 1000 North, rebuilding the 2100 North/Warm Springs Road interchange, expanding the US89/I-215/I-15 North interchange, and redesigning or updating several Davis County interchanges.

What about alternative plans or investing in public transportation?

On the UDOT I-15 EIS website, they wrote, “Widening I-15 is part of a comprehensive approach to meeting transportation demand through the year 2050 that includes added capacity to FrontRunner, additional bus service, local and regional roadway improvements and new facilities for those who walk and bike.” Looking at the entire plan holistically, UDOT continued, “To accommodate the population growth we expect by 2050, we will need to expand all travel options.”

Some have questioned other proposals initially discussed by UDOT, including one that would bury I-15 in an underground tunnel through Salt Lake City. UDOT leaders said that while a tunnel was initially looked at, it wouldn’t work in the long-run. “Because all of these options increase impacts to the surrounding communities significantly,” wrote UDOT on its project page, “and due to many technical challenges – such as hydraulic, geotechnical, roadway configurations and utility impacts – we have screened out putting I-15 underground.”

Others have brought up the Rio Grande Project, which proposes rerouting the rail tracks in Salt Lake City through a “train box” – a big concrete box, dug down into the ground, that would be big enough to hold multiple railroad tracks – that would pass near the old Rio Grande Depot, bringing train service back to the station after more than 20 years. UDOT has rebuked this idea, saying that not only does it not solve the issues they’re looking to fix with the I-15 expansion, but that “the Rio Grande plan is not an adopted part of the Regional Transportation Plan or part of a locally adopted transportation plan.” The Regional Transportation Plan referenced in UDOT’s comment is the 2050 Regional Transportation Plan put forward by the Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC).

As for a “public-transportation-only project,” UDOT said it’s not an option. “A transit only alternative does not meet the project purpose,” said UDOT on the I-15 EIS website. “As stated in the project’s purpose and needs, in addition to mobility/capacity needs, the I-15 needs also include addressing aging infrastructure, improving access and providing safer pedestrian and bicyclist facilities.”

What’s next? How can you get involved?

As State Senator and Minority Leader Luz Escamilla said at the June 2023 listening session, “nothing is a done deal yet.” Local leaders continue to encourage community members to get involved and voice their opinions on the plans.

Once the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is released in the Fall, there will be another public comment period of 45 days. During this time, anyone can review the plan online and leave feedback on the overall plan, or on individual parts of the proposal. Once the public comment period ends, UDOT will review the comments and issue their Final EIS in Spring 2024. After this point, UDOT will present their finalized project alternatives for approval, and construction preparations will begin; community engagement will be completed by this stage.

If the project is approved, construction could begin in 2026 and last three to four seasons, according to Pocock at the June 2023 listening session. That’d be roughly two to three years, taking into account that UDOT won’t be able to do as much construction during the winter months.

However, even with public input, the state may still choose to do whatever it wants. On the project website, UDOT cautioned, “public comment is not a vote, meaning that if one alternative gets a lot of positive comments and another received [sic] a lot of negative, other consideration may still suggest moving forward with an option less preferred as indicated by comments received.” UDOT says that in the end, they will have the final say in what – if anything – happens within the project area.

Those interested in reviewing the existing plans, as well as the Draft EIS that will be released in the Fall, should visit UDOT’s project website: https://i15eis.udot.utah.gov/.