US 89 is a north-south highway that extends through the state’s center. Measuring 502 miles in length, it is Utah’s longest road. Traffic models showed the need for making changes. The area used to be mainly rural and agricultural, but the land is now used for suburban and commercial development. Planners expect traffic to increase 43% by 2040. Instead of 37,700 vehicles per day, they expect 54,000 vehicles per day. Higher volume means congestion, delays and an increased number of crashes involving cars and wildlife. Instead of relying on traffic signals at intersections, the new design separates US 89 from cross traffic by routing it underneath the cross streets. Removing traffic signals and creating grade-separated interchanges have been shown to reduce traffic accidents and improve safety. Intersections with traffic signals have accident rates 4.5 times higher than intersections with interchanges, and the rate of severe crashes is 3.5 times higher.

UDOT’s upgrade to US 89 is in Davis County and involves the following changes:

• Removal of homes (many already owned by UDOT) in the expansion’s path
• The addition of six lanes (three north and three south) begins at Main Street in Farmington and ends at State Route 193 in Layton
• Relocation of 150 miles of utilities across the corridor; Weber Basin Water Conservancy, Dominion Energy, Rocky Mountain Power, and Century Link were all involved.
• Creation of new drainage ponds
• A three-mile extension of Gordon Avenue in Layton so it connects to US 89
• A 9.5-mile project that includes paving and other work from the border between Farmington and Fruit Heights to slightly south of the I-84 interchange in South Weber
• Some new frontage road construction on the east side. The frontage road section has been aligned to improve access to existing local streets and frontage roads and allow local traffic to either access new interchanges or cross efficiently. A parallel bicycle route with signs has been added to shared shoulders on the frontage roads.
• The construction of bridges with on/off ramps over US 89 at 200/400 North, Oak Hills Drive, Gordon Avenue, Antelope Drive, Nicholls Road, and Crestwood Road. As requested by public input, US 89 crosses under the local streets instead of over them which so reduces the visual impact of the construction, takes advantage of existing topography, and removes the need for 85,000 truck trips during construction.
• Removal of one traffic signal that impeded traffic flow
• Construction of noise walls where necessary.
• Reconstruction of one mile of US 89 at a lower depth to reduce noise
• Installation of deer fencing along portions of the east side of US 89 where needed
• Dark sky compliant lighting — designed to minimize light pollution — to be installed at medians and intersections of off-ramps and side streets.
• Installation of sidewalks and pedestrian crossings over the frontage roads as part of the new bridges and interchanges

UDOT hired Oak Hills Construction to design and build the project with a budget of $527 million. Workers will move more than 1.5 million cubic yards of earth and use 300,000 tons of asphalt by completion in 2023. Approximately 48,000 vehicles use this portion of US 89 daily. The goal is to improve local traffic access and crossing efficiency.

Davis County residents have been affected by construction projects. However, many Fruit Heights residents are excited about the project’s completion because it will improve traffic flow.

Dan Davidson, a Fruit Heights resident near the 200 North/400 North intersection, found out about the UDOT expansion after he bought his home. He was notified that the state owned some of what he thought was part of his property. However, he also found UDOT was “great to work with.” They communicated well and listened to those living in the area, including him.

Rebecca Bates also spoke about the project. She has lived in Fruit Heights for three years and commutes to Salt Lake County on US 89. Traffic on Nicholls Road has increased as more housing has been built in Fruit Heights. She sees the US 89 upgrade project as a way to improve traffic flow and thinks it will make her commute easier.