“We know we have to do something, we just don’t know what,” said Mitch Shaw, the Utah Department of Transportation’s senior communications manager.

According to Shaw, the removal of traffic lights along a portion of U.S. 89 from Farmington to I-84 as part of UDOT’s U.S. 89 project to improve accessibility and traffic flow to communities and neighborhoods has caused significant congestion in Uintah due to traffic lights at the I-84/U.S. 89 interchange.

Shaw said the agency knew going into the U.S. 89 project that resulting traffic moving at an uninterrupted pace would cause backups once drivers reached multiple traffic signals at the interchange. But they have to do what they can when they can, he added.

With a bulk of the U.S. 89 project complete, UDOT has initiated an environmental study to identify potential improvements addressing congestion and safety at the I-84/U.S. 89 interchange. The study is expected to run until the end of 2023.

UDOT is holding an open house from 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday at South Weber Elementary School to not only learn about the study, but also to offer potential solutions.

Shaw said the scoping period of the study will allow UDOT to identify a purpose and need, which will in turn drive goals and objectives the study seeks to accomplish.

Public comment for this phase of the study will run through Feb. 2. Comments on transportation challenges and potential improvements can be made via email at 84-89interchange@utah.gov, online at udotinput.utah.gov/84-89interchange or by mail: I-84/US-89 Interchange Study, 6575 S. Redwood Road, Taylorsville, UT 84123.