St. George Revives Underpass Project Amid Funding Challenges
St. George is moving forward with plans to construct two underpasses that will help connect neighborhoods divided by Interstate 15. This initiative comes after the Trump administration’s decision to rescind an $88 million federal grant, which had been awarded by the Biden administration for the project. State transportation officials are now exploring various funding options to offset the loss and ensure the project proceeds as planned.
Funding Hurdles and Recovery Efforts
The construction of the two underpasses at 400 East and 900 South is part of a larger $107 million project aimed at widening I-15 over a 2.5-mile stretch from Bluff Street to St. George Boulevard. However, the recent cut of $87.6 million in federal funding poses a significant challenge. Brett Anderson, a project manager with the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), emphasized the urgency of finding alternative funding sources. “We are asking for help because that is a lot of money we lost,” he stated.
City officials are actively seeking ways to recover the lost funds. One potential avenue involves discussions with Senator John Curtis’ office to restore some or all of the federal funding. However, Shawn Guzman, St. George’s government affairs director, noted that immediate restoration is unlikely this fiscal year, although there may be opportunities next year. “We think there’s still a chance to get some of that federal funding restored next fiscal year,” Guzman added.
In the interim, UDOT has applied for a $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, with hopes of receiving approval by summer. Additionally, UDOT is considering prioritizing the project for more state funding or reallocating savings from completed projects. However, spokesperson Kevin Kitchen cautioned that even these measures would not fully cover the funding gap, describing them as “more like scraps on the table.”
St. George may also need to contribute financially, but this poses a challenge as the city is already investing in a $100 million expansion of the St. George Regional Airport. Guzman explained that convincing state legislators to allocate additional funds for the underpasses is difficult, especially given the historical context of I-15’s construction, which has long divided the community.
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Connecting Communities and Enhancing Safety
If funding is secured, the underpasses will significantly improve connectivity for residents. Currently, the only crossings over I-15 are at St. George Boulevard, 100 South, 700 South, and Bluff Street, which often experience heavy traffic congestion. The new underpasses at 400 East and 900 South will allow for safer and quicker access between neighborhoods, particularly for students attending Dixie High and Dixie Middle schools. Instead of a lengthy detour, students living east of the interstate will be able to walk to school in just five minutes.
Moreover, the wider freeway is expected to alleviate traffic congestion, which currently sees about 60,000 vehicles daily between Bluff Street and St. George Boulevard. Projections indicate that this number could rise to 94,500 vehicles by 2050, according to the Dixie Metropolitan Planning Organization. Mayor Jimmie Hughes highlighted the importance of the project, stating, “Losing that funding for those underpasses last year was a big blow.”
