According to Mitch Shaw, senior communications manager with the Utah Department of Transportation, the roadway is slated for barrier replacements in 2024.

“We will be replacing aging, outdated concrete barrier at certain locations on SR 39 through the Ogden Canyon,” he said. “We won’t be able to replace all of the barrier in the canyon, but we’re going to do a good chunk of it. (UDOT) will have more details as design moves forward and we get closer to construction.”

He said the project came about largely because of the age of the barriers.

“Many of these barriers are old. We’ve done some replacements, but the majority of the barrier is outdated and falling into disrepair,” he said. “We’ve had a recurring issue for years on this stretch of SR 39 where large trucks will bump the barriers and send them off the road into the Ogden River. Our maintenance crews repair those immediately when that happens, but this project is part of a more permanent solution.”

Shaw said the project is expected to cost around $4 million and will be undertaken starting next year.

“This project will improve safety by installing new, stronger and bigger cast-in-place barriers throughout the canyon,” he said.  “Foundation improvements will also be made.”

This project comes after a busy year for the route through the canyon. Earlier this year, a section of SR 39 collapsed into the Ogden River due to high flows. The damage was quickly repaired. SR 39 was also the subject of a resurfacing project along the Ogden Canyon stretch of the road.