Costing nearly $5 million, reconstruction and realignment of U.S. 89 and a new access road to U-62 are nearing completion between Junction and Circleville in Piute County.
The project was funded last October after being low on the state's construction priority list. It has been through phases of planning for some 25 years, according to Rex Friant, Utah Department of Transportation engineer. Through new alignment, wetlands along the old route have been bypassed.The old section between the Junction Cemetery was narrow and included an old bridge spanning the Sevier River. It is being obliterated and part of it returned to wetland status, Friant said.
The rerouting begins south of Junction and ties in with existing U.S. 89 two miles east of Circleville. The former route from near Junction to the cemetery remains.
A new access road, extending for nearly a mile, leads to and from the town of Kingston.
The contract for construction of the 5.24-mile-long section of highway was awarded to LeGrande Johnson Construction of Logan.