CENTERVILLE—Utah Department of Transportation officials met with Centerville City leaders on July 15 to provide an update on the ongoing I-15 widening project, which is currently in its procurement stage. Michael Romero, a UDOT representative, informed the city council that the $2.9 billion project is moving forward and is expected to go out for bid in November.

The project will be a “design-build” contract, meaning a single contractor will be responsible for both the design and construction. 

“But for us to even get there, we have to set kind of the bounds of that sandbox that they have to play in, and that’s what we’ve been doing, and that’s where coordinating with the city staff and elected officials is very important,” Romero said.

Project timeline and challenges

Construction is anticipated to start in the spring of 2027 and last for four years. Romero noted that while UDOT is looking for ways to accelerate the timeline, they must balance that goal with managing risk. Eight firms have expressed interest in the project, with two considered “well-qualified” to move forward.

One of the project’s primary goals will be to keep traffic moving through the corridor while the freeway is under reconstruction, Romero said. To achieve this, UDOT will require that adjacent interchanges are not closed at the same time. A major challenge will be coordination with the Union Pacific Railroad, which is expected to take 15 to 18 months just for approval to begin construction near the tracks. This is particularly relevant at the Parrish Lane interchange and at 400 North in West Bountiful, where the I-15 structure is adjacent to the railroad tracks.

Pedestrian bridges and property impacts

The widening project will include two new pedestrian bridges for the city, which will improve connectivity for recreational trails and multi-family housing. One crossing, planned for 1250 North, is particularly challenging due to high-voltage power lines in the area. UDOT will fund and build these bridges, which have a lifespan of about 75 years, but the city will be responsible for all future maintenance and liability.

The project is expected to impact several homes near Community Park. UDOT is in negotiations to acquire three homes north of the park, while several other homes will face partial property acquisition. Romero stated that UDOT is attempting to minimize impacts by adjusting sidewalk and park strip widths. Homeowners whose properties are partially affected, will be responsible for finding bids to replace torn-out items, such as landscaping or sprinklers, though UDOT will cover the costs, he said.

Drainage and interchange aesthetics

The I-15 widening will also address an ongoing drainage issue. An existing “linear detention facility”(a type of stormwater management system designed to temporarily store and control stormwater runoff alongside roadways) in a swell area, will be impacted by the widening of the frontage road. To offset this, UDOT plans to provide more capacity under I-15 to get water out of the city faster.

UDOT is considering aesthetic improvements for the Parrish Lane interchange, such as decorative rock and potentially a city monument. The agency is working closely with the affected cities to ensure a consistent look and feel for the project as it crosses different city boundaries along the corridor, Romero said.

“What’s really important for us as an owner is we want to make sure that if you’re driving down I-15, you’re not seeing everything change with every city boundary,” he said.