Officials in South Salt Lake are warning residents about construction that could yield several impacts to traffic for people who live near or travel to Fitts Park and Granite Park Junior High.
As part of a project to replace two aging bridges over Mill Creek, crews will close 300 East for several months. Construction began earlier this month.
The 300 East bridge replacement is the second phase of the project; last October, construction crews started work to replace the road and culvert over Mill Creek at 200 East.
Mill Creek is a Salt Lake Valley waterway that runs east to west — including through South Salt Lake near 3100 South.
South Salt Lake communications manager Joseph Dane said the 200 East project is nearing completion, but he anticipates the next phase could pose greater challenges for community members.
“The Second East bridge wasn’t too bad, because it’s not a thoroughfare for the city, but 300 East, I anticipate having a lot more impact,” he said.
Crews closed 300 East in South Salt Lake between Gregson Avenue and Park Creek Lane for crews to prepare for bridge construction. The closures are expected to persist through late spring, according to the city’s project overview.
The project includes constructing new bridges, as well as new curbs, gutters, sidewalks and road surfaces.
Detour signs directing drivers and pedestrians to use alternative streets will be in place as construction takes place.
With Granite Park Junior High and Fitts Park’s proximity to the construction area, Dane said park access will be impacted, and the city is working with the Granite School District to explore solutions for student pick-up and drop-off.
South Salt Lake is working with the Utah Department of Transportation on the project after the two bridges were deemed necessary to replace as part of the Bridges Formula Program. The national effort was launched in 2022 to leverage funding to fix thousands of bridges across the country.
South Salt Lake said the 200 East and 300 East bridges were identified as aging and deteriorating under the Bridges Formula Program, which helps leverage funding to replace, rehabilitate and preserve bridges
“Not to say they would have fallen apart tomorrow, but looking at bridges across the state, they were just two that they added to their list,” Dane said.
The 200 East bridge, built in 1972, was graded “fair” by UDOT as part of the program, and the bridge on 300 East, built eight years later, was graded “poor.”
In addition to replacing the two bridges, crews are also reconstructing the roadway along 700 West between 3300 South and 3900 South. Traffic has been reduced to one lane southbound during construction. Crews started the project last fall and are expected to have it completed by the summer.
South Salt Lake anticipates the new 200 East bridge to be fully completed by the spring and construction on the new 300 East bridge to last through the summer.
Residents can find more information on the project here.