Contact: Kevin Kitchen
(435) 893-4702 

Quick Facts

In October 2005, FHWA, in cooperation with UDOT, released the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Southern Corridor project. The Southern Corridor is a proposed regional highway that would connect I-15 to SR 9. The highway would be located adjacent to the proposed St. George replacement airport and would connect St. George to Hurricane with links to Washington City. In the ROD, FHWA selected the 2800 West Alternative based on consideration of the public need for safe and efficient transportation and social, economic, and environmental impacts of the alternative.

An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required for any major federal action that will have impacts on the natural or human environment. Potential impacts are evaluated in the EIS. Public input received during the EIS process is also included in the EIS and ROD and is weighed in the decision-making process.

UDOT began the EIS for the Southern Corridor in 1999 at the request of local communities. A project like the Southern Corridor has been on community transportation master plans since the mid-1990s.

A Draft EIS for the Southern Corridor was released in April 2003. It identified three potential alignments for the highway. All three entered I-15 about 2 miles from the Arizona border at the proposed Atkinville Interchange and traveled north and east of I-15. They met SR 9 at either 4300 West, 3400 West, or 2800 West. Public hearings to received comments on the Draft EIS were held in St. George and Hurricane, Utah, in April and May 2003.

The Final EIS was released in April 2005 with the 2800 West Alternative as the Preferred Alternative. The 2800 West was selected as the Preferred Alternative based on analysis contained in the EIS and input from the public, local communities, and resource agencies. FHWA evaluated the comments to the Final EIS, the analysis contained in the Final EIS, and information in the administrative record in selecting the 2800 West Alternative in the ROD. The ROD was released in 2005.

For more information regarding the Southern Corridor Project, contact Kevin Kitchen at (435) 893-4702.