New freeway interchange delayed

Work on a new freeway interchange on the south side of Springville has been delayed as plans for the project are refined.

Rapid population growth in southern Utah County prompted the Utah Department of Transportation to begin examining how to relieve traffic congestion in the area. This led to the decision to create a new interchange on Interstate 15 at the road known as 1600 South in Springville.

The road is also known as 2700 North in Spanish Fork and marks the boundary between the two cities.

The new interchange will relieve traffic congestion on U.S. 6 in Spanish Fork and on Springville’s 400 South through providing an alternative route for traffic trying to access the southwest area of Springville and Spanish Fork’s Canyon Creek commercial area as well as the city of Mapleton.

An environmental study of the project’s potential impact was completed in August 2021. Since then, the project team has worked closely with Springville City and Spanish Fork City to identify design refinements that would provide cost savings and safety improvements for the project.

As a result, an environmental reevaluation is being conducted. Those design refinements include:

• A shift in the 1600 South/2700 North alignment to the south over the Union Pacific Railroad Sharp Line.

• Raised concrete medians along 1600 South/2700 North from Main Street to SR-51.

• The postponement of the I-15 southbound on-ramp construction (to be included in a later phase).

The two-phase schedule for construction of the new interchange is now the following:

Phase 1: Early 2023 to late 2023

• Realign and construct northwest, northeast and southwest frontage roads.

• Build embankments for the new I-15 northbound on-ramp, I-15 southbound off-ramp and the northbound auxiliary lane on I-15.

The frontage roads will be operational by the end of Phase 1.

Phase 2: Early 2024 to fall 2025

• Construct the new interchange at 1600 South/2700 North

• Build the I-15 northbound off-ramp embankment.

• Construct a new bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad crossing.

• Improve 1600 South/2700 North from Main Street to SR-51.

The new interchange and new I-15 ramps will be operational by the end of Phase 2.

For more information about the project and to sign up for email updates, visit publicinput.com/i15springvillespanishfork, call 801-704-0899 or send an email to i15springvillespanishfork@utah.gov.