The Utah Department of Transportation recently kicked off construction on the first project within the Utah Trail Network; a plan to build 2,600 miles of new paved trails and 500 miles of existing trails connecting communities statewide similar to how highways connect cities.
[Above photo by Utah DOT]
The agency said this particular project involves building a 0.7-mile trail connection along State Route 128 to close a long-standing gap in the Colorado River Trail, where people today are forced onto a narrow stretch of highway with little to no shoulder.
Once complete, the trail will keep people off the road and along the river – creating a safer and more continuous route for walking and biking, Utah DOT noted – adding that it is the first of more than 20 Utah Trail Network projects currently in development across the state.
[Editor’s note: Other states are also working to expand trail networks in their respective regions. For example, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation recently celebrated the completion of a 0.9-mile extension of the Neponset River Greenway trail; part of a statewide effort to provide more access to “greenspace” to state residents.]
“A few years ago, we shared a simple but bold idea: connect Utah with trails the same way we’ve connected it with roads,” noted Governor Spencer Cox (R) in a statement. “This is the first step in building a truly connected statewide system, and we’re just getting started.”
“This project connects people to places,” added Carlos Braceras, Utah DOT’s executive director. “It makes it easier to move between trails, campgrounds and destinations in Moab without getting on the highway. It’s a great example of how the Utah Trail Network will work across the state.”
The agency noted that this particular trail project is funded through a partnership between Utah DOT and the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation, with coordination from the Bureau of Land Management and Grand County.
