UDOT seeking public input on full interchange planned at 24th Street, I-15
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- Motorists travel east on 24th Street on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Signage in the area warns drivers there is no on-ramp to northbound Interstate 15. A left-hand turn at the light onto Water Tower Way is a dead end driveway to the Northern Utah Community Correctional Center.
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- Motorists navigate through the 2550 South and Pennsylvania Avenue intersection just west of the half-interchange of Interstate 15 and 24th Street on Tuesday, June 14, 2022.
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- Motorists navigate through the 2550 South and Midland Drive intersection before coming to a traffic light at the 24th Street and Interstate 15 interchange on Tuesday, June 14, 2022.
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- A semitruck turns left onto the southbound Interstate 15 on-ramp at 24th Street on Tuesday, June 14, 2022.
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- Railroad tracks alongside Pennsylvania Avenue west of Interstate 15 are pictured Tuesday, June 14, 2022.
OGDEN — The Utah Department of Transportation is seeking public input regarding potential changes to the Interstate 15 interchange at 24th Street. UDOT is considering converting the existing half-interchange at the location to a full interchange to meet future traffic demands.
According to UDOT Region One Senior Communications Manager Mitch Shaw, the project has been on the city’s radar for a very long time.
“They want 24th Street to be the main gateway to downtown Ogden,” he said.
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, UDOT is preparing an environmental assessment to identify any potential impacts with the conversion. Shaw said the department anticipates the assessment to be completed in summer 2023. With initial stages estimated to take one year to complete and appropriated funding not due to kick until 2024-2025, potential construction is a ways out.
According to Mark Brewer, general manager of Intermountain Concrete Specialties, it has been well over 10 years since the company was informed of the intended project. ICS, located at 2660 Pennsylvania Ave. just west of the I-15 southbound onramp at the 24th Street interchange, is suspected to be significantly impacted.
In the early years of being notified, Brewer said a proposal submitted by UDOT would have impacted business, cutting into a “significant” portion of the company’s land used for parking and yard area.
The company’s biggest frustrations, however, have been the long periods of silence on the matter, Brewer said.
“It seems like every three or four years it raises its head. They will have a discussion, but then we won’t hear anything for years and years and years,” he said.
Once the environmental assessment is completed and public input is gathered, details of any corresponding impacts to a full interchange will start to take shape, according to Shaw. As it is, he said, the half-interchange presents an inconvenience and limited mobility.
Under current configurations, only northbound I-15 motorists can exit on 24th Street, and motorists on 24th Street only have the option of getting on the southbound portion of the interstate.
According to Shaw, the half-interchange at 24th Street is one of the oldest interchanges on I-15 in the area. “It was built for what was feasible and needed at the time it was constructed about 60 years ago,” he said.
Ogden City Planning Manager Greg Montgomery said the city was concerned with a half-interchange when the interstate was built, but they were promised there would be a full interchange eventually.
With 31st Street being the only full interchange with I-15 in Ogden City limits, Montgomery said it’s important to have 24th Street for future development.
The interchange project was making progress some years ago, according to Montgomery, who said setbacks, possibly with the railroad, had UDOT starting over.
“It’s been a long time. We thought maybe they forgot about it or ran out of funding,” said Tracy Johnson, Ogden ICS branch manager.
Funding for the project, however, was approved by the Utah Legislature three years ago for $90 million.
Public meetings, both online and in-person, are being held in addition to a 30-day formal comment period beginning on June 22. The public is encouraged to share input, ask questions and learn more about the process and timeline.
The online meeting, to be held via Zoom, is scheduled for 6-7 p.m. June 22. Those who wish to attend are asked to register in advance at udotinput.utah.gov/24thstreetinterchange.
Ogden’s Union Station will host an in-person meeting on from 5:30-8 p.m. June 23.
Further information, including environmental assessment progress, public engagement opportunities and how to submit public comments, can also be found at the UDOT web link.
Updates via email are also being made available at 24thinterchange@utah.gov.