Legislated Route
§72-4-110. (1) SR-41. From Route 15 south of Nephi northerly through Nephi to Route 15 north of Nephi.

Route

• South End: I-15 exit 222
• North End: I-15 exit 228

The very curious southern end of U-41 -- also happens to be the northern end of U-28. It's one continuous road, but for some reason, they chose to number it U-28 south of I-15 and U-41 north of the freeway.

Route Notes
This route is the official designation of Business Loop 15 in Nephi. U-41 shields are posted only at each end; along the route, it is signed as Business Loop 15. Also, despite the fact that U-41 has two interchanges with I-15, no U-41 shields appear on any of the exit guide signs along the freeway.

Route History
Prior to the construction of I-15, this was a part of US 91, which continued on southward out of Nephi toward Levan on U-28.

The junction of U-41 with U-132 at 100 North and Main Street in Nephi. Notice that U-41 is not signed -- it is shown only as Business Loop 15.

Links

• Canonical List of Business Loops by Andy Field

The road carrying U-41 becomes U-28 as it continues south of I-15.

Route

• West End: Idaho State Line, connecting to old Idaho-77 at Strevell, Idaho.
• East End: Junction U-30 about 18 miles west of Snowville and 15 miles west of I-84 exit 3.

• Curlew Junction - notable because it is the point at which the route of old US 30S leaves U-30 and turns north toward Idaho, following U-42. From this point, U-30 turns southwestward toward Park Valley.

  The junction is located in the Curlew Valley, named after the long-billed curlew, a native bird still found in the area.

Route

• West End: Wyoming State Line, connecting to Wyo-414
• East End: Wyoming State Line, connecting to Wyo-530

• Manilla, junction U-44.

Route Notes:

U-43 is the only state route which has both endpoints on the same state line. Other routes, begin and end at the state line, but U-43 is the only which begins and end at the same state's border.

The junction of U-43 with U-44 in Manila marks one of the few locations in Utah where two consecutively numbered routes intersect.

Route

• South End: Junction US 191, 9 miles south of Flaming Gorge Dam
• North End: Junction U-43 in Manilla

• Greendale Junction - another junction whose name is a mystery to me; U-44 used to continue south of here all the way to US 40 in Vernal, but the remainder was replaced with the creation of US 191 in 1980. Greendale Junction is the name for the present-day intersection between U-44 and US 191.

Interesting things along the Route:

• Flaming Gorge Reservoir - U-44 runs picturesqely on ridges high above the lake, and several turnouts and viewpoints along the route provide dramatic vistas of the lake. Interestingly, the course of U-44 was not altered by the creation of the lake, as the maps appear to show that the route always ran high above the Green River. This is probably due to the rugged, steep terrain which existed closer to the river.

Route

• South End: a dirt road in eastern-central Uintah Couny, near the town of Bonanza
• North End: Junction US 40 in Naples

Route

• West End: Junction US 191, 22 miles south of Moab
• East End: Colorado State Line connecting to Colo-90

Route History

In the days before the reincarnation of US 191, U-47 was the route which covered those areas along present-day US 191 south of Monticello, going through Blanding, Bluff, and Mexican Hat. The map at right, shows the routing of U-47 as it existed in 1938. U-47 was decommissioned in 1979, when US 163 and US 191 were routed over its course.

Map scan courtesy of Alan Hamilton

Route

• West End: near Copperton, at the edge of the Kennecott Utah Copper Company property
• East End: Junction US 89 in Midvale, at the corner of State Street and 7200 South

• U-111, Bacchus Highway
• U-154, the Bangerter Highway in West Jordan
• U-68 Southbound, Redwood Road, at 7800 South in West Jordan
• U-68 Northbound, Redwood Road, at 7000 South in West Jordan
• I-15, exit 301, at 7200 South in Midvale
• US 89, in Midvale, at 7200 South and State Street

Route History
Early in the 20th Century, this highway continued on to the west, several miles beyond the town of Copperton, to the community of Bingham. But, as the Utah Kennecott Company's open pit copper mine continued to grow, it eventually widened to envelope the townsite. The company bought all the property in Bingham Canyon, and the town of Bingham ceased to exist. Officially, the highway was shortened to end at the Kennecott property line, just west of Copperton, and some of the old roadway was converted to be the tourist access road to the mine.
For over 30 years, U-48 was a primary access to the Kennecott mine, as state maintenance ended at the Kennecott security gate. However, in 1998, Kennecott, which had earlier shortened U-48 by razing the Bingham and closing Binghma Canyon, dealt another blow to U-48 by closing access at the U-48 gate and building a new visitors access several miles to the south.
Today, the western end of U-48 is a locked gate, in front of an antique shop which is no longer passed by tour busses on the way to the World's Largest Open Pit Mine. West of 4000 West, U-48 still proudly carries the name "Bingham Highway", although the town of Bingham is long forgotten and the road barely sneaks into the mouth of Bingham Canyon before being locked out.

Route Notes Tracking this route, without knowing its history could be somewhat confusing. First, the western end of the route is not at milepost 0. True, the western end of a route should ne milepost 0.0, but on this route, the western end is the locked gate at the Kennecott property line, at what would be mile 0.4. Milepost 0 used to be at the old Kennecott property line, measured in the statutory description, as "1.8 miles west of the (Copperton) post office." When UDOT allowed Kennecott to close the road, they decided not to move all of the mileposts, so today, milepost 1 is encountered just 6/10 mile beyond the start of the route.

U-48 heads northeast, passing through the pleasant, quiet town of Copperton, which looks as if time has passed it by. Well-kept homes dating from the 1920s, with neat, trim lawns and huge trees, somehow give you the feeling that you're a world away, not just a half hour from the state capitol.

U-48 continues its northeastward path, until joining the Salt Lake Valley grid system, turning east on 7800 South near 4000 West. As it passes through West Jordan, the highway shows the burdens of growth which have hit area in the past twenty years, constantly shifting between wide major arterial sections and the remaining two-lane pieces from its days as a rural route. UDOT plans to widen the entire street, from 4000 West to Redwood, to a modern five-lane road beginning in 2002.

At Redwood Road, U-48 reaches a temporary end. Until 1999, the route continued west on 7800 South into Midvale. But, with the completion of a new bridge over the Jordan River connecting 7000 South in West Jordan to 7200 South in Midvale, UDOT chose to move the highway's routing to that new alignment. So now, to follow U-48, one must use Redwood Road, which is U-68, to complete the route between 7800 South and 7000 South.

But, out of towners be careful! Signage along the shared section is poor. At each end, approaching U-68 on U-48, is a single shield and arrow sign assembly indicating that U-48 is to the left. But, once on U-68, all of the signs indicate that it is route 68 - - there is no trace of U-48 - - making it very easy to doubt whether you're headed in the right direction. This is probably due to UDOT's intense aversion to dual route signage; while there are some notable exceptions among interstate and US highways, nowhere in Utah is there a roadway with two different state numbers. Nevertheless, here on U-48's overlay with U-68, dual route signage is needed for effective navigation, and should be seriously considered.

In actuality, the 1999 routing which follows Redwood and 7000 South marks the second major shift in the path of U-48. Prior to construction of I-15, U-48 continued eastward along 7800 South, shifting slightly to the north to 7720 South (also knwon as Midvale Center Street), and passing through downtown Midvale before reaching its end at US 89 at State Street.

The planners of I-15 decided that building an interchange at 7200 South was preferable to constructing one at 7800 South because the area around 7800 South was in the heart of Midvale and much more densely populated. But, in doing so they had to find a way to channel traffic transitioning between U-48 and the new freeway. Their solution was to use 700 West, about 1/4 mile west of the new freeway's alignment. To facilite traffic flow, they widened a couple of streets on the western periphery of Midvale, and built jogs into 700 West to funnel the traffic around the edge of Midvale down to 7720 South. Those jogs became known as the Holden Street bypass and were the routing of U-48 for more than 30 years.

The three graphics below should put the routing chonology in perspective.

Interesting things along the Route:

• Kennecott Copper Mine - the world's largest open pit mine. That may not sound interesting, but it is truly an amazing site: a pit more than a half-mile deep and two-and-a-half miles wide. The Kennecott-operated visitor center is loaded with propaganda touting the company's achievements, but there are also enough unbiased exhibits to make it a fascinating half-hour stop. NOTE: In 1998, access to the mine was moved to the gate at 128th South. Follow the signs from U-48 and U-111 southward to the new entrance.

• Gardner Village - Established by Archibald Gardner in 1850 as a millsite on the Jordan River, today the old village has been restored into a cluster of boutique shops and restaurants. The village is on 7800 South, just west of the Jordan River.

• My house - Well, actually, it's about 1/4 mile away, but it's darned close. I just put this in here to see if anybody was actually reading my text! Please let me know that you saw this. Send me an email at marykdan@aol.com. Thanks.

Eastbound: to continue on U-48, follow U-68 northward to 7000 South, about a mile.
Westbound: U-48 restarts here; head west on 7800 South

Eastbound: U-48 restarts here; head east on 7000 South
Westbound: to continue on U-48, follow U-68 southward to 7800 South, about a mile.

One more note: even though the new routing is only at mile 12.2 while the old routing is up to mile 12.9, the new routing is not shorter. Remember, the one mile jog along Redwood is counted officially as U-68 mileage, and not as U-48 mileage.

Route History

In the earliest numbering plan, U-49 was assigned to the road along the east bench in north Davis county, between Farmington and Uintah. By 1940, that section of highway had been incorporated into the routing of US 89, as it remains today.

Route

• East End: Ocean City, Maryland
• West End: West Sacramento, California
  • Historical west end: At Harrison and Tenth Streets in San Francisco, California

In Utah

• West End: Nevada State Line, connecting to US 6-50
• East End: Colorado State Line, connecting to I-70, US 6-50

The remainder of those miles in the state are miles shared with other routes, as overlays:

• With US 6:
  • 89 miles - from Nevada State Line to Delta
  • 74 miles - from Green River to Colorado State Line
    The miles in the second US 6 overlay are counted with I-70
• With I-15: 10 miles - from Holden (exit 178) to Scipio (exit 188)
• With US 89: 2 miles - from Salina to I-70 exit 54
• With I-70: 175 miles - from Salina, exit 54, to Colorado State Line
• With US 191: 24 miles - from I-70 exit 156 west of Green River to Crescent Junction (I-70, exit 180)
  The miles in this overlay are counted with I-70

Route History
US 50 was originally routed through Salt Lake City. Diverging from its present-day path in Ely, Nevada, the highway cut northeastward to Wendover, then an overlay with US 40 to Lakepoint Junction. From there, the highway followed present-day U-201 along 21st South Street to US 89/91 at State Street. Then, it followed US 89/91 south to Spanish Fork, picked up US 6, with which it travelled all the way to Grand Junction, Colorado.

In 1950, when US 6 was paved across the western desert, US 50's routing was changed to an overlay with US 6 for its entire journey across Utah, and the old route became US 50-ALT. Despite this, only the portion of the route on 21st South in Salt Lake County stood alone -- the remainder was overlaid with other routes. A later change added another designation, US 40-ALT, to this section, leaving US 50-ALT with no independent sections.

In 1971, I-70 opened as a Super-Two between Salina and Green River, and, not long afterward, US 50 was moved again, this time leaving US 6 in Delta and cutting southeastward to I-15, hopping a short ride with I-15 north over Scipio Summit, and then cutting southeastward again, to join I-70 in Salina. This is the present-day route of the highway.

Interesting things along the Route:

A few years ago, LIFE magazine designated US 50 in Nevada as the "Loneliest Road in America." Well, in Utah, US 50 doesn't do much better. In fact the largest city through which the current route of US 50 passes is Delta, population 4,000! On US 50, you can do a lot of driving through very desolate areas of the state.

Links
Nevada US 50 by Andy Field
Colorado US 50 by Matt Salek

Meanwhile, old US 91 heading south from this intersection has been re-designated U-64, a short connector joining US 50 to and from I-15 south, and upholding state maintenance of the old route through Holden. That number is the same number which had been assigned to the road on which US 50 has just travelled, as it once connected Holden with Delta. The roadway was included in the new routing for US 50 created in 1976 which utilized the new I-70. U-64 was moved to the short stub at that time. There are a couple of maps illustrating this intersection on the Route 64 page.

This corner is milepost 194.3 on US 89, and from here to I-70, US 50 will use US 89's milemarkers, which happen to run in the opposite direction!

Eastbound on US 50, US 89 splits away to follow I-70 west, and US 50 joins I-70 eastbound.

This interchange is known as the "New Fremont Junction".

US 6 and US 191 join the route here. US 191 follows I-70 along with US 6 and 50 for the next 24 miles, while US 6 hangs on until after the routes have crossed into Colorado, breaking away at Fruita.

This junction marks the southern end of a 100 mile overlay between US 191 and US 6. US 191 continues south to Moab, Monument Valley, and the Four Corners region.

Route

• South End: Jct U-147, just east of the underpass beneath US 6 on the east side of Spanish Fork
• North End: US 89 in Springville

Check out this sign along route 51. It has a logo like Amoco, but with the word UTOCO. I wonder, did Standard Oil once market in Utah under the brand name Utoco? Let me know if you have any information!

Route History
For a short time in the mid 1960s, U-51 was assigned to the short, five mile long road between Sage Creek Junction in Rich County and Wyoming-89. By 1968, this route had been absorbed by U-30, as it is today.

This incarnation of U-51 is part of the old routing of US 91, the section carrying that highway's traffic from Spanish Fork to a merge with US 89 in Springville. The subway beneath two railways and the southbound US 89 transition in Springville represents one of Utah's oldest grade-separated interchanges.

The northern end of the route is marked by the presence of MILEPOST 4, on the east side of the US 89 roadway.

Route

• West End: Junction U-114, just west of I-15, exit 275
• East End: Olmstead Junction, US 189 at the mouth of Provo Canyon north of Provo

The interchange with US 189 was rebuilt in 1986 and now features a flyover ramp which carries eastbound traffic from U-52 over the intersection to US 189 NORTH.

Route

• West End: I-15, exit 345. The street continues westward as U-108.
• East End: US 89 at the corner of 24th Street and Washington Blvd (US 89)

Route History
Prior to 1970, U-53 was assigned to a road in Carbon County from US 6 (and US 50 back then) in Wellington eastward to Myton.

A view down 24th Street (MLK Blvd) in Ogden from I-15/84. Note that, despite its designation as a state highway, 24th Street is not a major thoroughfare.

Route

• West End: The town of Mona
• East End: I-15, exit 236

Route Notes
Mona is a small town which lies on the old route of US 91 about twelve miles north of Nephi. When I-15 was built on an alignment about a mile east of the town and US 91 was decommissioned, this route was created to keep the town connected to the state highway system. It is not a Business Loop from 15. Technically, it could be signed as a spur, but there are no familiar traveller services in the town.

Route

• West End: Junction US 6-191, between Helper and Price
• East End: Junction US 6-191 on the south end of Price.

This view of U-55 is from its south end, just off the US 6/191 super-two. Notice how the route is dual-signed as Business Route US 6. Even though US 191 is overlaid on US 6 through Price, for some reason U-55 is not marked as Business Route 191.

Another view of U-55, this one in downtown Price, at 100 North and Main. This corner is the northern end of U-10, at 100 North and Carbon.

Route History
This route was the traditional route of US 6 (and earlier US 50) through the city of Price. There is now a Super-Two bypass around the western edge of the city for US 6/US 191, so the old route was assigned this route number, but US 6 in Price was preserved in the form of a business loop, which is signed along U-55.

Before 1970, U-55 was assigned to present-day U-148, going north from U-14 to Cedar Breaks National Monumnet.

Route

• West End: Nevada State Line, connecting to NV-319
• East End: Business 15 (aka U-130)in downtown Cedar City. The route continues eastward as U-14.

• Junction U-18, Beryl Junction
• Junction I-15 at exit 59, Cedar City
• Junction U-14, at Business 15 in Cedar City
• Junction U-130, at Business 15 in Cedar City

Route Notes UP Railroad
At the western end, the route parallels the Union Pacific mainline. The tracks continue westward to Caliente, Nevada, and then turn south toward Las Vegas and Los Angeles. In Utah, the railine leaves U-56 at Modena, heads northeastward to Lund and Milford, continues north through Delta and Tooele and then turns east at lake point Junction to Salt Lake.

Legacy Loop Highway
Local insurance magnate and State Senator Dixie Leavitt (R-Cedar City), who also happens to be Governor Mike Leavitt's dad, sponsored legislation in 1996 which designated a portion of this route as the "Legacy Loop Highway."

His intent was to spur tourism through the area west of I-15 between Cedar City and St. George, by encouraging visitors to choose the Legacy Loop instead of I-15. So far, according to an article in the Deseret News, his proposal has been less than successful, mostly because there is no signage designating the route as the "Legacy Loop Route." (July 31, 1998) Also, the route is neither shorter nor quicker than I-15.

For the record, the Legacy Loop runs from St. George on U-18 to U-56 at Beryl Junction, then westward into St. George. The Legacy Loop is found in the Utah Code at §72-4-202.

72-4-202. Legacy Loop Highway. (1) There is established the Legacy Loop Highway comprising the existing highway from Route 15 south of St. George, northerly on Route 18 to Route 56 at Beryl Junction, then easterly on Route 56 to Route 130 in Cedar City, and then northeasterly on Route 130 and county routes 1788 and 1786 to Route 143 in Parowan. (2) The Department of Transportation shall designate the portions of the highways identified in Subsection (1) as the Legacy Loop Highway on all future state highway maps.

Route

• South End: Junction U-10, three miles south of Castle Dale
• North End: At the Wilberg Mine

• Junction U-10 near Castle Dale
• Junction U-29 at Orangeville

• The Wilberg Mine - The Wilberg Mine was site site of one of our nation's most deadly mine disasters in recent times. On December 19, 1984, fire broke out in one of the mine's tunnels, trapping 27 miners, including the first female fatality since Utah permitted women to work in the mines. There are two monuments commemorating the tragedy: one at the Emery County Courthouse in Castle Dale, and one at the mine site. For more information, check this website.

Route 58 has its own page.

Route

• South End: Arizona State Line, connecting to AZ-389 in Hildale
• North End: Junction U-9, in Hurricane

Interesting things along the Route:

• Hildale, Utah / Colorado City, Arizona - The polygamists' towns. Settled in and around these twin towns on the Utah/Arizona border, are a group of people who left the LDS Church when it renounced polygamy in 1890. They believe that the doctrinal change was wrong and formed the Fundamendalist LDS Church (FLDS).

  The status of things here, which is really just one town of about 5,000 people seperated by the state line on Uzona Street, is well-known to authorities both in Utah and in Arizona, so, you may ask, why don't they just arrest the polygamists and shut them down? In July 1953, the Sheriff of Mohave County, Arizona, tried to do just that. It was called the Short Creek raid, as the town was called back then, but the effort failed because, after the sheriff arrested a number of the males, he found that the women refused to testify against their "husbands." Ultimately, he was forced to release them all. These days, without cooperation, the only statute that can be applied against them would be intercourse out of wedlock (adultery), and doing that would mean prosecuting a host of other unmarrried couples statewide! Given that, the polygamists will continue their plural marriage practices unhindered by the state laws of Arizona or of Utah. Plural marriage has been prohibited by the Utah Constitution since the state attained statehood in 1896.

  One fact about Hildale/Colorado City might make you mad: over 33% of its residents are on receiving Food Stamps and/or AFDC. A study conducted by the Salt Lake Tribune found that welfare rates in these communities are higher than any other place in either Arizona or Utah. Because plural marriages are not recognized, the women are considered to be single mothers under the programs' eligibility rules, mandated by federal guidelines. The Tribune pointed out the irony of the situation, noting, that the same federal government which used to be the arch-enemy of polygamy is now its "benevolent uncle," because it provides the income necessary to support such large families and sustain the practice. The average Hildale home contains 8.55 residents, and, with a median age of 13.1 years, Hildale is the youngest in Utah.
  

  Salt Lake Tribune, Sunday, June 28, 1998

Route

This is the sign assembly at the eastern end of U-60 before the new interchange was built. A sign-error of the type shown -- using the wrong kind of shield -- is very rare for UDOT. Obviously, U-60 ends at US 89, not U-89 as depicted.

• West End: Junction U-26 on Riverdale Road just north of I-84
• East End: Junction US 89, just south of I-84

After its start among the big box retailers in Riverdale, U-60 crosses under I-84 and then makes a turn to the east at this corner, assuming the character of a rural road beyond the turn.

Route Notes
Despite being in an urban area, U-60 has been able to retain an almost rural feel. With the exception of the route's westernmost one mile, U-60 runs along the south bank of the Weber River through an area that is fairly isolated from the Ogden area. Hemmed in between the river on the north and Hill AFB on the south, U-60 has managed to remain a route linking five acre family farms and horse properties. Only at the western end, near Riverdale Road, where the route cuts among big box retailers and acres of parking lots, does U-60 give any hint that it is actually in a big city.

In 2001, two events transpired that may begin to change the nature of U-60 and the rural lands through which it passes: First, in the summer, the Adams Avenue Parkway, a private toll road, opened, connecting the only nearby crossing over the Weber River with the populated Ogden area up on top of the bluffs. Second, a new interchange with US 89 at the east end of the route opened in the fall, eliminating the bottleneck that used to exist at that corner. How will these changes and the comparatively easier access to U-60 change the character of South Weber Drive? Only time will tell.

Route History
This route was the pre-I-84 connector between US 89 and US 91. Its eastern end is at the mouth of Weber Canyon, where old US 30S used to emerge. U-60 provided a quick way for US 30S traveller to get over to US 91, which ran a few miles to the west on Riverdale Road.

A look down U-60, from Riverdale Road looking southward. In the distance, the overpass carrying I-84 crosses. Just beyond that, U-60 turns east on South Weber Drive at the intersection pictured above.