Through May 3, the Utah Department of Transportation is seeking the public’s feedback on a proposed change to the I-15/24th Street interchange.

“We are currently conducting an Environmental Assessment, examining potential improvements on I-15 at the 24th Street interchange and the surrounding area,” Mitch Shaw, UDOT senior communications manager, told the Standard-Examiner in an email Monday. At present, drivers only are able to enter the highway heading south, and only drivers going north on I-15 can exit at 24th Street.

“A definitive plan for improvements hasn’t been picked yet, though the environmental assessment identifies one,” he said.

Such improvements, Shaw added, could include replacing the current partial interchange with a “fully directional single point urban interchange,” which would be located about 800 feet south of where the interchange is now and would “cross over I-15.” As a result, on- and off-ramps at 24th Street could be removed, leaving the underpass intact.

“The surrounding local roadway network would be modified to serve local travel and the new interchange,” he said.

According to Shaw, the project is being looked into due to the potential for issues in the future and the somewhat incomplete nature of the intersection today.

“We analyzed current traffic conditions and projected traffic conditions out to 2050 and found that there will be excessive delays at intersections in the immediate area of the interchange,” he said. “Also, having just the half interchange limits the movement of people and goods in this area.”

“Many have asked the question, ‘Why weren’t (southbound) off ramps and (northbound) on ramps built at the location in the first place?'” Shaw continued. “The answer to that is that the 24th Street interchange was built when I-15 was first built through Utah, in the 1960s and essentially, the half interchange was what was most feasible and cost-effective for the needs of the time. Back when the interchange was built, the thought was that most northbound goods and services movement would be transported by train.”

However, the project is by no means a done deal and will depend on a few factors, starting with the cost.

“We have about $90 million available right now, but we know we will need more than that to complete the improvements identified in the (environmental assessment),” Shaw said.

Also undetermined at this time is the construction timeline. But Shaw said UDOT hopes to complete the environmental analysis and release a “decision document” around the end of the summer.

“The decision document will essentially give a yes or a no on moving forward with the identified improvements,” he said. “If the decision document determines that we move forward with the identified improvements, then we would need to seek additional funding.”

For more information and to submit comments on the project, visit https://udotinput.utah.gov/24thstreetinterchange.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to clarify the directions from which drivers can enter and exit Interstate 15 from 24th Street.