5600 South project around the corner; traffic impacts down the road
Photos supplied, UDOT
Undated scenes of construction along 5600 South in Roy. The project to widen the road and reconstruct the interchange with Interstate 15 is expected to last into 2026.ROY — Drivers will soon be facing a massive project along an important thoroughfare, though direct traffic impacts may be a ways off.
Over the coming three years, a reconstruction project will widen 5600 South (state Route 97) between Interstate 15 and 3500 West along with reconstructing the I-15/5600 South interchange.
“We are currently finalizing design and have been demolishing UDOT-acquired properties along the corridor since January,” said Mitch Shaw, senior communications specialist with UDOT. “During demolition, surrounding areas can expect noise, dust, vibration, heavy equipment and workers at each location. Short-term shoulder closures may be implemented to assist demolition equipment entering and existing the area.”
Due to the specialized nature of the project, Shaw said he was unsure exactly how many structures will have to come down for the project.
“In terms of how many ultimately will be demolished, we don’t know that yet,” he said. “The 5600 South project is what’s known as a ‘Progressive Design-Build.’ This is where we incorporate the contractor from the earliest stages of the project, allowing us to change or adjust the project scope as the design progresses. As properties are vacated and cleared, demolition will take place, and this could take up to another six to eight months to complete.”
Shaw said the project could also require additional funding, but includes a lot of moving parts.
“The project was funded for $238 million and that was including right-of-way acquisitions,” he said. “Current inflation and projections show additional funding may be required to complete the full build. Broad project plans call for widening of 5600 South from I-15 west just past 3500 West from three to five lanes — two travel lanes each way and a center turn lane,” from one travel lane each way and a center turn lane.
At the same time, he added, “5600 South/1900 West intersection will also be upgraded to include new sidewalk, pedestrian ramps, turn-lanes and signals.”
Despite all of this, Shaw said that work this summer will have minimal impacts on drivers.
“Once construction starts this summer, the work we’re going to be doing this year mainly consists of offline ramp construction, so there are no direct traffic impacts anticipated for this year,” he said.
A rough timeline of the project shows the project lasting through the summer of 2026.
