U.S. 6 requires fixes but lacks the funds

A study of possible improvements to U.S. Highway 6 has been approved by the federal government, but with no funding for fixes, the rural road with a deadly reputation may not be redone anytime soon.

Regardless, the Utah Department of Transportation said on Wednesday that the approval was a milestone and that it would "start an open discussion" on how to fund an upgrade of the road. The just-approved study calls for most of the 128-mile highway to be widened to four lanes.

Widening the road would cost close to $1 billion, according to UDOT spokesman Nile Easton.

"As of right now, there is no funding identified," Easton said. "With this approval, the next step is to start an open discussion with the state transportation commission and the Legislature on how to fund the (four-lane) alternative."

Since 1996, UDOT has spent about $110 million on improvements to the rural highway. Center-line rumble strips have been installed, guardrails upgraded and truck climbing lanes added. While the number of fatalities on U.S. 6 doesn't compare to the number on I-15 or I-80, those who use it say widening the road would save lives.

In 2005, a reported 13 fatal crashes occurred along U.S. 6, making it the worst year for fatalities on the road since 1998.

"On a narrow canyon road, there's always going to be some amount of danger," said Rep. Brad King, D-Price. "There are areas where there is no safe place to pull off if you need to. There are long stretches where there is no place to safely pass. There is a very high number of heavy trucks that use the road and in the uphill parts, that makes it difficult to get through."

King commended UDOT for completing its study of U.S. 6, but said all areas of the road should be widened to four lanes. Because of impact to wetlands, about seven miles of the road would be limited to two or three lanes.

Kathy Justice, founder of a citizens group seeking improvement to U.S. 6, said UDOT can do better to find funding for the road and should set a goal to widen the road.

Justice's mother was killed while driving U.S. 6.

"I can understand not having the money," she said, "but at least have a plan for where you can strive toward a goal of four lanes eventually."

Easton said UDOT is aware of concerns and realizes the importance of U.S. 6 to residents and out-of-state travelers. However, the state is facing a $16 billion deficit for road improvements in the state over the next 25 years, he said.

Alyson Heyrend, spokeswoman for Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, said the congressman recently made it easier for Utah to receive funding for the highway by designating it a "high-priority corridor."

"That designation makes the road available to receive funding from a separate pot of money at the federal level," Heyrend said. "He created an opportunity for the state to get a bigger chunk of funding to go towards its efforts to upgrade the road."

For more information about the recent study of U.S. 6, log on to www.udot.utah.gov/us6.

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E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com