Until then, though, get ready for a construction zone. The Utah Department of Transportation is about to rip a couple of lanes out at a time not just to repave it but to add landscaped medians for safety and sidewalks and privacy walks for beautification. Construction begins in late August or September.

The medians will eliminate two left-hand turn areas, at Old Mission Road and Valley Ridge Drive.

"They're eliminating the possibility of right-angle crashes," UDOT spokesman Adan Carrillo said.

Crashes are one factor in Sandy City's decision to press for the project. Sandy City Public Works produced a map of the road showing the sites of three fatal accidents and 38 injury accidents causing broken bones or bleeding from 2001 to 2005.

The city is paying $3 million, and the federal government is paying $19 million. UDOT will administer construction because of the federal funding.

Traffic usually will flow across two lanes throughout construction, Carrillo said. At times it may be reduced to one lane. No night work is scheduled, because of a county noise ordinance.

UDOT will maintain access to businesses and medical facilities along 1300 East, but anyone wanting to avoid construction may consider 700 East or 2000 East. "They're not detours. They're just alternate routes people can take," Carrillo said.

Sidewalks are sporadic through the length of the project, and so are privacy walls. Weeds grow from what sidewalks there are. The project add sidewalks and bike lanes throughout, and build uniform privacy fences along residential backyards.