ST. GEORGE — Public input is being sought concerning the extension of George Washington Boulevard from River Road to Crosby Way.
The purpose of the meetings, which are being hosted by the Utah Department of Transportation in partnership with the city of St. George, is to introduce the public to the study process and the many factors concerning the need and purpose of the proposed roadway and the impact it can have if built.
A Zoom meeting will be conducted Monday, May 20, and an in-person session will be staged on Tuesday, May 21. The same information will be presented at both meetings. Details about these meetings are at the bottom of this article.
Public comment is also being sought to help planners gauge public concerns and focus on specific areas of importance as they produce the study.
Plans for a roadway between River Road and Interstate 15 have been in the works for years and gained more emphasis once the location of the Latter-day Saint Red Cliffs Utah Temple was announced in late 2020.
The overall purpose of extending George Washington Boulevard (originally known as 1450 South in St. George and 3650 South in Washington City) is to provide a new east-west corridor between the Southern Parkway and I-15. The road currently runs from the Southern Parkway on its eastern end – and runs right by the Red Cliffs Temple – and terminates at River Road on its western end.
“It’s to help reduce existing traffic volumes on River Road around the area of George Washington Boulevard and Riverside Drive, and to help reduce future traffic congestion in the same area and beyond on River Road,” Cameron Cutler, the city of St. George public works director, said in a text to St. George News.
An additional section of the roadway that will be a separate project is the construction of a new bridge over the Virgin River.
Running the environmental study for the city’s proposed project is UDOT as nearly $5 million in federal funds are being applied to it, UDOT spokesman Kevin Kitchen said.
UDOT is acting as the federal agent in the administration of the study to meet directives established by the National Environmental Policy Act. Commonly referred to as “the NEPA process,” it governs how environmental impact studies for certain infrastructure and other projects are to be conducted.
The study is slated to feature a preferred alternative to the proposed roadway while including other options geared to meet the same needs of the area. It will also outline the possible impacts each option presents if pursued. Once a draft of the study is completed and published – possibly later this year or early 2025 – it will be open to a new period that will be factored into the final document and record of decision.
Public meetings and public input
The first meeting is being held online via Zoom on Monday, May 20, at 5 p.m. Those wanting to join the online meeting can register on the project page hosted the city of St. George website. This meeting and related material will be recorded and hosted on the city’s website starting Tuesday.
The second meeting will be held at St. James Park (741 St. James Lane in St. George) on Tuesday, May 21, from 4-6 p.m. Written comments can be submitted during the meeting.
The same information will be presented during both meetings.
Comments can be submitted over email to [email protected], or mailed to:
George Washington Boulevard c/o Horrocks
555 South Bluff St., Ste. 200
St. George, Utah 84770
Comments received during this time period will be included in the final environmental document.
The overall public comment period runs through June 19.
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