WASHINGTON COUNTY – With construction converting the St. George Boulevard-Exit 8 Interchange into a Diverging-Diamond Interchange wrapping-up Tuesday, the Utah Department of Transportation hopes to see facets of another road project, the Southern Parkway, finish soon as well.
Currently two segments of the Southern Parkway, also called state Route 7, are nearing completion, UDOT spokesman Kevin Kitchen said Monday.
One segment is a stretch of road just north of the St. George Municipal Airport that will connect to the Warner Valley interchange where motorists will travel into Washington City via Washington Fields Road. The next segment connects the Washington Dam and Sand Hollow roads which provides access to state Route 9.
The road segments are tentatively slated to be completed somewhere between early to mid-December, Kitchen said. “They’re both very close,” he said.
Once completed, the motorists will have a clear run from Interstate 15 Exit 2 to SR-9, albeit partly through Washington City for the time being. Currently a part of the Southern Parkway that goes through Warner Valley has not yet been constructed, making the passage through Washington City necessary.
Though environmental studies are complete and a few preliminary designs have been proposed, Kitchen said, UDOT currently does not have funds dedicated the project. When it does, Kitchen said the construction will continue.
As the Southern Parkway project has progressed, it has unearthed ancient ruins and fossil discoveries. As the route bypasses St. George, some Washington City officials have commented on the potential for future business growth along the Southern Parkway that would prove beneficial to the municipal economy.
Once 100 percent complete, the Southern Parkway will snake across the southeastern part of the county from Exit 2 until it connects to SR-9 via 2800 West.
Related:
- I-15 St. George Boulevard Bridge closure, switch to Diverging Diamond Interchange configuration
- Discoveries emerging from fossils found at Southern Parkway Project excavation sites
- Southern Parkway road construction unearths ancient ruins; what archaeologists say
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“As the route bypasses St. George, some Washington City officials have commented on the potential for future business growth along the Southern Parkway that would prove beneficial to the municipal economy.”
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….shouldn’t be too hard, S.G. officials seem particularly inept at redevelopment efforts within their own boundaries…..
Hahahahaha….now that is Funny!!!
Interestingly enough, this new “shortcut” will actually be the long way around. It will be several more miles to travel from SR 9/SR 7 intersection, (interchange?) to SR 7/I-15 interchange via the new SR 7, than it will to take SR 9 to I-15, then I-15 south to 1-15/SR 7 interchange. Of course there will be less traffic on SR 7 than going through St. George on I-15, so that will help.
But it will actually add miles to the trip from say, Las Vegas to Zion NP to use SR 7. But then what can we expect, it is just more “UDOT in action.”
It will be interesting to see how many folks their screw up at Blvd/1-15 interchange kills.
Notice it cuts right through the Sand Hollow area. On one hand I think it’s a neat pass that might have some views, convenience, and ability to bring some business. But The Sand Hollow area has already a bit obnoxious with the recreational use. Can only image what a highway will bring as far as sights and sounds are concerned
I don’t think the Southern Parkway is meant as a shortcut to Zion’s. What I do know is it will greatly improve access for those of us in Washington to the airport etc.
And how is a new exit 8 interchange going to kill people? Not sure I understand.
Zion’s, you mean the bank? They are all over the place, no shortcuts needed.
Sorry, guess my iphone prefers the bank.
I became aware of this over a year ago. It isn’t a short cut from Vegas but it allows someone flying into the st George airport to bypass st. George on their way to Zion. Zion is what has always and will always push our tourism industry. A great opportunity for Washington!
This will likely cut my drive to the airport from 30 minutes down to 10 minutes. Nice!
Just curious here, but how often do you have to make that drive? Or do you work at the new airport?
The Southern Parkway was not built solely as a route between two places. It was built to provide access to all of the private land that lies along it’s route. Golf courses and thousands of homes will be there soon enough. $$$$$
It is really okay to think for yourself, just try it sometime.
I just got wind of a new 300 home development between staheli farm and stucki farm. Ill leave it at that.
“As the route bypasses St. George, some Washington City officials have commented on the potential for future business growth along the Southern Parkway that would prove beneficial to the municipal economy…” I highly doubt that the sprawl development that the Southern Parkway will bring will benefit the local economy. The infrastructure needed to service future businesses and residents will be more expensive than the tax revenue than they generate. Who will foot the bill? The entire city.