St. George • Once exhilarated over the $87.6 million the Biden administration awarded to bridge the divide caused by Interstate 15 bisecting their city, St. George leaders are now lamenting the loss of those funds under the current administration.
St. George officials confirmed Monday that the millions the city and state were slated to receive as part of the federal Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhood program have been axed, a casualty of the passage of President Trump’s massive “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” in July.
Awarded in 2024, the money was aimed at paving the way for the construction of underpasses at 400 East and 900 South, which would connect neighborhoods now separated by I-15 and reduce congestion and improve public safety at Dixie High and Dixie Middle schools, which currently straddle both sides of the freeway.
State transportation and city officials say the loss of that money essentially creates a temporary roadblock, delaying the Utah Department of Transportation’s $194.7 million project to widen north and southbound I-15 from two to three lanes along the 2.5-mile stretch from Bluff Street to St. George Boulevard.
Bill comes due
Shawn Guzman, St. George’s government affairs director, said the city was aware the underpasses could be defunded in June when Trump’s bill was making its way through Congress, and worked with Sen. John Curtis to no avail to keep the funding.
“We knew that was a long shot,” he said, “We understand, as a city, the need to balance the budget because we are required to have a balanced budget every year, and that often means making hard choices, such as whether to put in a playground or fill potholes. So we support the [Trump] administration’s efforts to balance the federal budget.”
Expected or not, Council member Dannielle Larkin decried the demise of the funding she said was critical to the city’s ongoing efforts to build safe connections underneath the interstate that would allow children to walk and bike safely to school and to relieve traffic congestion on St. George’s streets.
The new crossings would enable students living in the neighborhood just west of the interstate to walk to Dixie High and Dixie Middle schools on the opposite side in five minutes instead of traveling a mile out of their way to cross the freeway at Bluff Street or 700 South.
“This was not just about new infrastructure, but about smarter, safer infrastructure,” Larkin said. “ When we fail to invest in options beyond automobiles, we fail to solve our traffic challenges. … Safe routes to school and alternative ways to move around our city are not luxuries; they are the foundation of a balanced and sustainable transportation network. Our community deserves infrastructure that meets the needs of every resident, whether they are behind the wheel, walking, biking, or rolling.”
Seeking alternative funding
Guzman remains optimistic the underpasses can still get funded. He said the city is working closely with the state transportation officials, the Federal Highway Administration and Sen. John Curtis and Rep. Celeste Maloy’s offices, who have contacted U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to explore other grants or possible funding options. Representatives with both congressional offices declined to comment.
Utah Department of Transportation spokesman Kevin Kitchen said the state still has enough funding to widen 1-15 even without money for the underpasses, thanks to the nearly $105 million the state lawmakers committed to the project.
Aside from widening the interstate, the project calls for replacing highway overpasses at 100 South and 700 South with two taller bridges that are wide enough to accommodate the additional interstate lanes. Also included is a plan to heighten the height of the highway to make room for the two now-defunded underpasses.
“Without the funding for the underpasses, I don’t believe we will be able to fully do all that unless we can replace a portion of the money that has been lost,” said Kitchen, adding UDOT is waiting to see if more funds are forthcoming before proceeding.
Guzman said the St. George stretch of I-15 was built back in the 1970s when the city numbered roughly 12,000 residents.
“That was fine when we were a rural community, but now that we have tremendous growth on both sides of the freeway and our downtown is becoming increasingly popular with families and businesses, we need more access across what is essentially a dam in the middle of our city. That’s what we are hoping for.”