St. George • Nearly a year after the Trump administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” scuttled $88 million for a St. George underpass project, some federal funding is slowly trickling back to the Interstate 15 project.

A new federal grant the state has secured through the U.S. Department of Transportation will provide $23.5 million for the project that was temporarily placed on hold after the initial funds were cut.

St. George Mayor Jimmie Hughes hailed the cash award.

“For too long, Interstate 15 has acted as a wall through the heart of St. George, dividing neighborhoods and forcing traffic onto a handful of congested crossings,” he said in a Thursday news release. “These two new underpasses, along with new six-foot sidewalks, will finally give residents safe, reliable ways to cross the interstate—easing congestion, shortening trips and improving air quality and quality of life by keeping cars moving rather than idling in backups.”

Hughes said the grant is especially timely because state transportation officials are preparing to rebuild the stretch of I-15 that bisects St. George. With the infusion of federal cash, the mayor noted, the two underpasses planned for 400 East and 900 South can be constructed at the same time to ensure the work is “done once, done right and with far less disruption to our residents and businesses.”

The crossings aim to bridge neighborhoods separated by I-15, reduce traffic congestion and enhance public safety near Dixie High and Dixie Middle schools. By providing direct pedestrian access, Hughes and other city officials explain, the underpasses are projected to reduce commute times to five minutes for students living east of the interstate, bypassing the previous mile-long detour at Bluff Street or 700 South.

City officials are hopeful the latest grant will bring an end to the I-15 crossings saga that began last August when the initial funding for the project was pulled. The money will help the Utah Department of Transportation offset some of the $62.9 million it opted to invest in the project after the federal funding fell through. St. George has also committed $5 million to help keep the project on track.

St. George Council member Natalie Larsen is elated that the city and state’s persistence in securing funding is finally paying off.

“Projects like these don’t happen overnight,” she told The Tribune “They require partnerships, planning, and persistence. I’m grateful for the collaboration between UDOT and the city of St. George to make this vision a reality.”

Beyond the underpasses, the work is part of UDOT’s broader effort to widen I-15 from two to three lanes in each direction along a 2.5-mile stretch between Bluff Street and St. George Boulevard. UDOT is also pouring roughly $38 million into Bluff Street to resurface the road, upgrade storm drains, and add traffic medians.

Both projects are expected to begin this year and wrap up in 2028, according to UDOT spokesperson Mitch Shaw.