Cedar City: UDOT Wants Your Input On South Interchange Plans

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) is conducting an Environmental Assessment to evaluate potential improvements to the transportation network surrounding the South Cedar Interchange of I-15 (Exit 57) in Cedar City. As part of this process, UDOT is hosting a public meeting to present information on the environmental review, the proposed changes, and to gather input from the community.

The in-person public hearing will take place on September 24 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Cedar Middle School, located at 2215 West Royal Hunte Drive in Cedar City. The meeting will follow an open house format, allowing attendees to learn about the project and ask questions.

In addition to the public hearing, UDOT is accepting public comments on the proposed improvements from September 7 through October 7, 2024. UDOT encourages residents to review the Environmental Assessment materials, either online or at the public meeting, and submit their feedback. Public input is an essential part of this process, with all comments carefully reviewed and considered by the project team.

It was just 10 years ago that the south Cedar City Interchange came on line. According to a study from Avenue Consultants released in June of 2023, if no improvements are made to the south interchange, its Level of Service will be rated as F by 2030, and the result could be gridlock nearly a half a mile in either direction at the intersections on both sides of the interstate.

The study also stated that since the Diverging Diamond Interchange was completed in 2014 that traffic volume between Royal Hunte Drive and I-15 has increased by 14%, and that peak hour traffic volume on Saturday is expected to increase 50% by 2030 at the interchange and adjacent intersections.

The same study says that population and employment is expected to grow by 40% in Iron County in the nest thirty years.

Feedback can be submitted in person at the public hearing, by email at southcedar@utah.gov, online at udotinput.utah.gov/southcedar, or by mail to the South Cedar Interchange Project Team at 136 East Riverside Drive, Ste 100, St. George, UT 84790.

The Environmental Assessment is expected to be completed by the end of 2024, though the timeline is flexible based on the process. For ongoing updates and information on future public engagement opportunities, residents are encouraged to visit udotinput.utah.gov/southcedar and sign up for email notifications.