Salt Lake City unveiled its plans for the busy 300 West roadway on Wednesday, a new design that will create safer travel travel for pedestrians, motorists and cyclists alike.
The redesign includes the section of 300 West between 900 South and 2100 South. The city will repair or replace underground utility lines, add continuous six-foot wide sidewalks on both sides of the street, install a two-way bike lane on the west side of the road and build park strips to protect nonmotorists from car traffic. The road will also have four lanes for vehicles and a center median or turning lane.
“The project is focused on more than just replacing underground utilities and repaving deteriorating roads,” said Will Becker, Salt Lake City transportation planner, in a Facebook live event announcing the plan. “The goal is to bring the street into a modern era.”
Construction will likely begin this spring and end sometime next year. The 300 West redesign is one of the largest projects paid for using the $87 million Funding Our Future road reconstruction bond approved by voters in 2018. It will eventually connect with another upgrade planned for 900 South.
(Image courtesy of Salt Lake City) A planned redesign project of 300 West in Salt Lake City will run from 900 South to 2100 South.
Than means “we’ll have two major bike facilities connecting with each other, all the way to the Jordan River trail,” said Adan Carrillo, a city transportation engagement manager.
Among 300 West’s many current challenges is that 1,700 feet of the road doesn’t have a sidewalk, Becker said.
“That’s over five and a half football fields,” he said.
In addition to protecting pedestrians and cyclists, the new park strips will include drought-tolerant plants, help beautify the street and provide storm water drainage.
The city does not plan to widen the road in order to add all its improvements.
“We’re going to be doing all of the work we just discussed in the existing right of way,” Becker said.
Reducing the roadway width has the added benefit of shortening the time pedestrians spend in crosswalks by 6 to 8 seconds.
(Image courtesy of Salt Lake City) Salt Lake City is planning a major redesign of 300 West that will include continuous sidewalks, a two-way bike lane, park strips and a narrower roadway.
The city worked with businesses, focus groups and community councils in developing its redesign. It also held an accessibility tour to gather feedback from people with disabilities. It conducted surveys on the street and online to collect input from city residents.
“We’ve heard what you have to say. We’re not able to do everything everybody would like to see in every way, but we have hopefully done a good job at balancing all the things we’re hearing,” Becker said. “We’re moving this important street in our city into the next chapter.”
For more information on the project, visit 300westslc.com, email 300west@slcgov.com, call 385-360-1313 or watch the city’s Facebook live video below.
Follow @@LeiaLarsen