Salt Lake County authorities say they may start issuing citations amid an uptick of bicyclists trespassing into a construction zone in Millcreek Canyon, which they warn puts both cyclists and construction crews at risk.
The upper section of Mill Creek Canyon Road has been closed since May as the county began work to repair the aging roadway of the popular recreation area. All areas north of its winter gate remain closed for construction, aside from a trail crossing that county officials say is needed to help hikers and bikers reconnect with the unaffected trail network.
However, crews have reported multiple instances where cyclists have bypassed “clear signage” and continued up the closed road section instead of remaining on the open trail. Some have ended up “weaving between equipment and workers,” according to the county.
“This isn’t just a road closure, it’s an active construction zone,” said Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosa Rivera in a statement Friday. “While we’re focused on educating the public, citations will be issued when necessary. Our goal is to keep everyone safe and prevent accidents before they happen.”
The county has deputies patrolling the area to help with enforcement, Rivera said. Someone from the county is regularly stationed at the crossing to help inform visitors of the closure, but the county isn’t able to have someone there at all times of the day, adds Helen Peters, director of Salt Lake County Planning and Transportation.
The issue isn’t only a potential safety hazard, but it also could delay the project, she said.
“Every time someone enters the work zone, it delays progress, endangers lives, and puts the long-term access we’ve worked so hard to preserve at risk,” she said.
That said, the project appears to be on schedule. Salt Lake County says the construction will still pause sometime in December, which is when the upper section of the road will reopen for nonmotorized winter recreation, as was the plan when construction began in the spring.
Construction is expected to resume by mid-March 2026, affecting access again next summer before the project is completed.
The two-year project seeks to repair what officials previously described as a “distressed and eroding” roadway. It also calls for expanded trailhead facilities and some uphill bike lanes to account for the growing traffic in the area. It received approximately $19.6 million in federal funds and $9 million in matching funds from local entities.