Hurricane, Utah (Wednesday May 19, 2021) –  Hurricane Mayor, John Bramall, is anticipated to help the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) cut the ribbon Wednesday unlocking the first major belt route East of I-15 in Washington County.  

State Route 7, also known as the Southern Parkway, now extends 26 miles from I-15 Exit 2 up to State Route 9 in Hurricane, brushing the Arizona border and connecting three cities to the St. George Airport and Sand Hollow State Park.  

Construction on the new eight-mile segment, which completes the connection, coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic.  It features three regionally significant interchanges, provides passage for future active transportation paths, and the groundwork for additional future median-separated lanes as the area grows.    

UDOT Region Four Director, Rick Torgerson, says the $75-million project caps a nearly quarter-billion dollar investment in the corridor and provides more resiliency to the area’s transportation network while proactively preparing for growth.  

Construction of the State Route 7 corridor began in 2007 following several years of planning, environmental study, and engineering design work.  A study addressing future traffic on State Route 9 back to the recently modified Exit 16 ramps on I-15 has also been conducted.  

A separate study was also completed focusing on non-motorized transportation needs adjacent to the Southern Parkway.  Local cyclists will get to ride the new stretch prior to letting cars on the road.  Competitors in the St. George Ironman were also allowed brief access to conduct their recent event.  

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