Upgrades to 600/700 North set to start in 2025

Based on feedback from more than 100 residents, the completed project is expected to promote safety, reduce speeding, and better accommodate alternative modes of transportation. Graphic provided by Avenue Consultants.

Salt Lake City transportation engineers, along with experts from Avenue Consultants, are looking at traffic calming measures and improvements on 600/700 North between 800 West and Redwood Road. Funds to finance the street’s redesign have been allocated from several sources, including $2.4 million from the Utah Department of Transportation and $9.7 million from an existing sales tax bond.

“This is a major investment,” said Salt Lake City Transportation Engineer Kyle Cook. He has been with the project since 2020, when community meetings were first held to develop a vision for the street's future. He said the primary concerns were speeding and safety, while the community's wish list for improvements included landscaping, upgraded bike lanes, and sidewalks, among other things.

“It will truly be a more comfortable and welcoming street when it’s built,” Cook said. “The city is listening, and we are excited to be working with the community on a design that will transform the street for future generations while supporting neighborhood needs now.”

The project reached a key milestone in March when a community open house took place. More than 100 residents provided feedback on a draft road design for the secondary thoroughfare. Engagement with residents, businesses, and community organizations on the redesign has been ongoing. A survey of community members in the summer of 2023 generated over 1,400 comments.

“We had a vision,” Cook said, “but still had to look at what was possible given what is currently in place and what would need to be changed to make the vision a reality. There were significant constraints due to the width of the corridor and existing utilities, storm drains, curbs, and sidewalks.” Cost and maintenance challenges were also taken into consideration.

Due to the constraints, Cook and the design team reworked the initial concept. They came up with a design that they felt was feasible and addressed the creation of a welcoming corridor into the Rose Park and Fairpark neighborhoods.

The improvements, some of which are long overdue, will be made in balance with the regional transportation mobility needs of the area.

“Much of the surface pavement is in poor condition,” Cook said, adding that the quality of the sidewalk varies throughout the project area. Pedestrian ramps and intersection corners are also in need of work, as well as the park strip landscaping. The quality of the sidewalk impacts the space and the overall aesthetics of the road.

The proposed design aims to improve safety and provide more comfortable access for people walking, biking, and using transit. Those improvements include separated bike lanes, landscaped buffers with trees, mid-block crosswalks, and upgrades to traffic signals.

Area residents are encouraged to continue engagement by visiting the project’s website. The 600/700 North design team will continue refining the design as they receive additional public input throughout the year. One more public meeting is anticipated before construction begins in 2025.

To learn more about the project, visit www.600northslc.org. To make comments, call (801) 618-1003 or email 600north@slc.gov.