ST. GEORGE — A “sparsely attended” public hearing on Zion National Park’s future development of the east entrance was held by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) Wednesday. The hearing in Kanab covered the draft State Environmental Study for improvements on state Route 9 just east of Zion National Park from milepost 44.8-56.3.
Public comments will be allowed until Sept. 30 concerning the east entrance online. Zion National Park is one of the most popular parks in the United States and has experienced a record visitation of over 5 million people in 2021.
Kevin Kitchen, senior communications manager, Utah Department of Transportation, said the park’s two main entrances are on the west and east sides. Most visitors enter through the west entrance adjacent to the town of Springdale, resulting in congestion, parking issues, and overcrowding.
The undeveloped east entrance to the park is near Mount Carmel Junction, U.S. Route 89 and state Route 9 in southwestern Utah and 12 miles east of Zion National Park. The area is 17 miles north of Kanab.
“UDOT is focused solely on the improvements proposed as part of this project which includes the installation of a new roundabout and pedestrian underpass at State Route 9 (SR-9) and North Fork Road,” Kitchen said in an email to St. George News.
According to a press release, the environmental study and roadway design will be completed by 2022, with construction anticipated in 2023.
Additional improvements include the intersection at milepost 45.2, the installation of a new multi-use path on the south side of SR-9 between MP 45.2 and MP 46.5. And wildlife crossing conflict mitigation measures between the east entrance of Zion National Park and Mt. Carmel Junction will also be provided, Kitchen said.
The project will improve transportation along SR-9 near the east entrance of Zion National Park. It will provide walking and biking opportunities, support planned growth and economic development plans to invest in local tourism and alleviate some of the pressures experienced at the west entrance to the Park, Kitchen said.
Mark Preiss, vice president of Zion National Park Forever Project, praised the State’s efforts to improve the rural east entrance to the park.
“The East Zion Roundabout project demonstrates the State’s commitment to investing in innovative and collaborative solutions that sustain rural Utah,” Preiss said. “Connecting to a new Visitor Center on Zion’s eastern gateway, these improvements will improve safety and extend access to new recreational opportunities while relieving traffic congestion. With tens of thousands of cars passing through Zion’s east gate each month, providing an accessible and safe experience remains the top priority.”
Plans for the east entrance to the park include a new visitor center on the upper east side near state Route 9. It will be built on the eastern part of the Zion Park Scenic Byway, a 57-mile stretch of road that runs east and west through Zion National Park, between Exit 16 on Interstate 15 and the eastern junction with U.S. Route 89.
The new visitor center will take some of the pressure off the park by educating visitors about the surrounding areas, Preiss said. The center will display information about the Park, adjacent wilderness study areas and the other lands near the Park.
Many people and agencies are coming together for the project, Preiss said. Landowners near Zion National Park approved conservation and trail easements. These landowners include Steve Neeleman, owner of the Zion Ponderosa, and Kevin McLaws, owner of Zion Mountain Ranch. The McLaws family donated the 20 acres for the new East Entrance Visitor Center site. The conservation easements secure the development rights to ensure no future incompatible developments are made. The trail easements guarantee the public right of way on the donated and acquired lands where the mountain bike trails will be located.
Zion National Park Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh said the park is working with all area stakeholders on the east entrance expansion.
“Zion National Park looks forward to continuing our collaboration with the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), our non-profit partner, Zion Forever, as well as the many other stakeholders working to enhance visitors’ experience through the East Zion Initiative,” Bradybaugh said.
For more information, to review the public hearing meeting materials, and to stay informed, visit the project website and sign up for email updates at [email protected].
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