A major Utah highway project is speeding toward the finish line, months ahead of expectations.

The 16-mile-long West Davis Highway -- state Route 177 -- from its connection with Intestate 15 in Farmington to S.R. 193 in West Point, is set to open to drivers around 11:30 a.m. Jan. 6.

According to Mitch Shaw, senior communications manager with the Utah Department of Transportation, the project had been expected to finish in the summer of 2024, but how the construction plan was structured reportedly helped it finish ahead of schedule.

"Just being able to work closely with the contractor and identify areas where we could accelerate work," he said in an email to the Standard-Examiner. "Our contractor on West Davis is Farmington Bay Constructors, a joint venture of Ames Construction, Wadsworth Brothers Construction and Staker Parson Materials and Construction. This project was a 'design-build' project, which is a method of project delivery in which one entity works under a single contract with us to provide design and construction. So it's one entity, one contract and one unified flow of work from beginning design concept all the way through completion of construction."

He added that there are plans in place for the public to celebrate the opening of the highway as well.

"On Saturday, January 6, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at the 950 North interchange in Farmington, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) will host an opening celebration with a two-mile walk/roll/run/ride on the new highway," Shaw wrote.

Along the 16-mile project, there are several freeway interchanges, including at Legacy Parkway/I-15 (Farmington), 950 North (Farmington), 200 North (Kaysville), 2700 West (Layton), 2000 West (Syracuse) and Antelope Drive (Syracuse). Included in the project is more than 10 miles of trails linking Emigration Trail to Legacy Parkway Trail.

While S.R. 177 will be serving Davis County in just a month's time, it's likely not the end. Long-term UDOT plans also call for its extension into Weber County as the "West Weber Highway."

However, don't pencil in plans for its opening anytime soon.

"Long-term state transportation plans show the West Davis Highway will eventually extend through Weber County and connect back to I-15," Shaw said. "But there's no route defined, no funding and no timetable. That extension would have to go through the full environmental process."

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