Posted 1-30-2012
The Salt Lake Tribune - Updated Jan 15, 2012 11:46PM
State Road 14 east of Cedar City — blocked by a massive landslide in October — is not expected to reopen until just before the July 4 holiday, and could be delayed even longer.
Also, the speed limit through the slide area of that road toward Cedar Breaks National Monument will be reduced from 50 miles per hour to 35 to allow tighter curves in the reconstructed area. That could cut repair costs by half by reducing cuts and fills needed along the canyon there.
The Utah Transportation Commission received that report on Friday, along with some good news that the federal government approved $10 million in emergency funding this week to help with repairs.
Utah Department of Transportation officials said they hope to award a contract by March, have the project under construction in April, allow first access through the slide area before July 4 and then complete the work through the end of the year with intermittent closures.
UDOT officials said that assumes they are able to work out access issues with most landowners without needing to use condemnation powers. If that process is needed, it could delay the project months longer.
UDOT officials had worried they may need to put off other projects to pay for the SR-14 repair, so they were happy to hear about the federal aid — part of $1.6 billion package of grants given to states to help with emergencies.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said when that money was awarded, "Communities from coast to coast are still recovering from disasters that affected the roads they use. ... The Obama administration stands ready to provide emergency relief and reimburse these communities for the work that has been done to restore their critical transportation needs."
Posted 1-13-2012
S.R. 14 Landslide Repair
SAFETY NOTICE: Please do not bypass the gates on S.R. 14.
Business Access:
· Local restaurants are open and operating in the mouth of Cedar Canyon from milepost 0 - 5.
Traffic Impact:
· State Route 14 (S.R. 14) is impassable between Cedar City and Cedar Breaks National Monument due to a landslide that displaced the original road.
· The road will remain closed until Summer 2012.
· The road closure for winter extends from milepost 5 to Deer Valley.
· S.R. 148 which connects S.R. 14 to S.R. 143 is closed for the winter season.
· Duck Creek Village is accessible from the east side of S.R. 14.
Project Schedule:
· Currently UDOT is conducting additional survey on S.R. 14 and drilling core samples while Environmental and Right-of-Way teams pursue appropriate legal clearance for the project and design team members determine cost.
· The Utah Transportation Commission has approved 3.1 million for cost estimating and design of a replacement road. Actual road replacement construction costs and funding sources continue to be explored as design moves forward.
· UDOT has selected General Contractor Kiewit from proposals submitted by construction companies to bring private construction expertise to the design table. Their services include determining risks and costs associated with this unique project as well as providing expedited construction solutions to the design team. (A copy of the Request for Proposals and accompanying documents is available on UDOT's Project Explorer Bid Letting page under the "Alternative Delivery Projects" category.)
· New road construction is anticipated to begin in February or March of 2012.
· Construction will extend into Summer 2012.
Project Overview:
· This project replaces a section of state Route 14 affected by a landslide. Basic elements of this project include stabilizing slopes, moving earth and debris, and constructing a new road.
· Adjacent tourist destinations are accessible via alternate routes.
· Over the winter months UDOT will continue snow removal on state Route 14 from U.S. 89 to Deer Valley. (Additional resources are being applied to S.R. 143 in an effort to keep it open as much as possible during winter storms.)
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