UDOT

Following a comprehensive re-screening process, the Utah Department of Transportation’s Heber Valley Corridor Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) study team  identified two alternatives for further analysis. Details are available in a report published today. 

The EIS, initiated in 2021, seeks to improve regional and local traffic flow on US-40 from SR-32 to US-189, provide walking and biking opportunities, and allow Heber City to meet their vision for the historic town center.

While the team previously prepared alternatives to meet this purpose and need, an update to the travel demand model in March 2024– which projected significantly higher traffic volumes than formerly anticipated– necessitated a re-evaluation of the initial 2023 alternatives.

“The updated traffic model showed a substantial increase in traffic, requiring us to adjust our approach,” said Craig Hancock, UDOT’s project manager for the EIS. “We thoroughly analyzed the new data to ensure our proposed improvements will meet the long-term travel needs of the community. While this added time to our schedule, we wanted to make sure we used the best available information to make the best possible recommendations.”

UDOT evaluated eight concepts, including both at-grade signalized intersections and grade-separated free-flow interchanges, where through-traffic would not need to stop. UDOT ruled out options that proposed to realign a portion of US-189 due to redundancy, increased traffic on 1300 South, and greater impacts to the sewer farm.

The newly published report shows that the free-flow options are about 30-40% faster than their at-grade counterparts in the southbound direction and 30-50% faster heading northbound. UDOT ultimately decided to eliminate the at-grade options from further consideration as they resulted in similar impacts while providing less benefit.

“This data-driven approach will allow us to build a long-term solution right from the start,” Hancock said.

Two free-flow alternatives, referred to as Alternative A (on US-40) and Alternative B (off US-40) are being advanced in the study. Both feature a multi-use trail, freeway-style interchanges, and local access via overpasses or underpasses and frontage roads. Key differences lie in their northern segments.

“We decided to advance two options for more detailed analysis in the study because each option offers benefits with different environmental impacts,” Hancock said. “When we release the Draft EIS this fall, we’ll welcome the community’s feedback on the refined alternatives and the tradeoffs between them.”

The team is currently refining the designs of Alternatives A and B and conducting detailed impact analyses. The Draft EIS will identify a preferred alternative and will be followed by public hearings and a comment period.

The public is encouraged to stay informed by visiting the study website at heber valley.udot.utah.gov, attending Heber City and Wasatch County council meetings, and signing up for email updates.