The SR-18; Bluff Street Interchange at Red Hill Parkway project received America’s Quality of Life/Community Development Transportation Award for Small Projects (less than $25M). This award recognizes the top transportation projects throughout the United States that improve quality of life and community economic development. This balance was achieved by weaving multi-modal demands, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and other forms of nonmotorized transportation into the transportation network.
With the growing popularity of road cycling, mountain biking, and outdoor recreation in the St. George area, the City of St. George partnered with the Utah Department of Transportation to construct the SR-18; Bluff Street Interchange at Red Hills Parkway project. As Lead Designer, Wilson & Company designed a Grade Separated Center-Exit Interchange that features four new 10’ shared-use pedestrian/bicycle culverts to connect over 15.9 miles of trail; a new trailhead on Bluff Street, north of Snow Canyon Parkway; and three trail access points along the Bluff Street corridor.
The preliminary design had the trail systems running parallel to each leg of the Center-Exit Interchange. Through close coordination with the community the project was redesigned to create safe passageways under the interchange for bicyclists and pedestrians by constructing grade-separated crossings beneath each leg of the highway. This new design provides safe and functional bicycle/pedestrian facilities that support the recreational needs of the community by allowing trails to remain separate from the highway. In addition, the Bluff Street, Red Hills, Snow Canyon, and Highway 18 Trails were designed to meet ADA standards to improve accessibility for all users.