Utah State Route 179

State Route 179, also known as the Tooele Midvalley Highway, is a proposed highway in the U.S. state of Utah. It will run through the central part of the Tooele Valley, located in eastern Tooele County.

State Route 179
Tooele Midvalley Highway
Route information
Length13.2 mi[1] (21.2 km)
Mileage reflects the route at full build-out.
Existed2018–present
Major junctions
South end SR-36 near Tooele
  SR-112 in Tooele
SR-138 in Erda
North end I-80 near Stansbury Park
Highway system
  • State highways in Utah
← SR-178SR-180 →

Route description

The Midvalley Highway is proposed to begin at SR-36 south of the city of Tooele, proceeding to the northwest. After crossing the Union Pacific Railroad's main line, it will turn to the northeast, passing the east side of the Utah Industrial Depot. After passing the depot, it will turn to the northwest again before crossing SR-112 at 1000 North. The route will cross Sheep Lane and Erda Way before reaching SR-138, where it will turn back to the northeast. It will proceed northeast to a trumpet interchange at Interstate 80, where it will end.[2] At full build-out, the highway will be approximately 13.2 miles (21.2 km) long, consisting of 3.7 miles (6.0 km) of arterial and 9.5 miles (15.3 km) of freeway.[1]

History

Planning

The need for a highway running down the center of the Tooele Valley had been identified by 2001, when it was recognized that the existing SR-36 would not have enough capacity for future traffic volumes. Although initial remedies included widening SR-36 and a new 1000 North extension (now part of SR-112), planners knew the Midvalley Highway would eventually be needed as a long-term solution.[3]

By January 2011, UDOT released an Environmental Impact Statement defining a Preferred Alternative for the route.[1] A Travel Demand and Crash Data Review was completed in November 2013.[4]

On May 11, 2018, the Utah Transportation Commission signed a resolution designating State Route 179 as the official number for the Midvalley Highway, defining SR-179 as the proposed highway from SR-138 north to I-80. The same resolution also mandated that SR-138 end at the Midvalley Highway; the segment between there and SR-36 will revert to Tooele County jurisdiction.[2][5] However, these changes are contingent on the construction of the relevant segment of the new Midvalley Highway, and as such were not included in the 2019 Legislature's annual state highway amendments bill.[6]

Construction

The Utah Department of Transportation is currently working with Tooele County to design Phase 1 of the project. This phase will consist of a two-lane freeway from Interstate 80 to the current SR-138, a distance of 4.5 miles (7.2 km). In addition, the existing SR-138 roadway will be realigned, and a new intersection will be constructed at Sheep Lane. Pre-construction work will begin in summer 2019, but major construction is not expected until 2021.[7]

Future

Plans call for the segment between I-80 and SR-112 to be eventually upgraded to a four-lane freeway, with the portion between SR-36 and SR-112 becoming a four-lane arterial. Interchanges are proposed at I-80, SR-138, 1000 North (SR-112), and the future 3400 North parkway, with at-grade intersections planned for Utah Avenue (former SR-112) and SR-36. Grade separations will be provided at the Union Pacific Railroad line, Erda Way, Sheep Lane, and the future Midvalley Trail.[1]

Major intersections

This table reflects the full proposed routing. The entire route is in Tooele County.

Locationmi[8]kmDestinationsNotes
Tooele SR-36 (Main Street)Planned southern terminus
SR-112 (1000 North)Planned interchange; proposed south end of freeway
Erda3400 NorthPlanned interchange
4.57.2 SR-138Future interchange; junction under construction
​0.000.00 I-80Northern terminus (under construction); north end of freeway
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
  •       Unopened
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References
  1. Federal Highway Administration, Utah Department of Transportation (January 5, 2011). "Final Environmental Impact Statement & Section 4(f) Evaluation". Utah Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 23, 2019 – via Google Books.
  2. Utah Department of Transportation (May 11, 2018). "Jurisdictional Transfer: SR-138 with Tooele County, Fact Sheet". Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  3. Speckman, Stephen (March 12, 2001). "Tooele Depot says new highway a must". Deseret News. Tooele. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  4. Utah Department of Transportation. "Roadway Design Recommendations Report, Tooele County Midvalley Highway". Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  5. Utah Transportation Commission (May 11, 2018). "May 11, 2018 Utah Transportation Commission Minutes". Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  6. Utah State Legislature. "State Highway System Amendments, 2019 General Session". Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  7. Utah Department of Transportation. "SR-179, Midvalley Highway". Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  8. "UDOT Midvalley Highway". Utah Department of Transportation. State of Utah. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
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