The US-191 realignment project north of Vernal is officially complete and the UDOT partnership with Simplot Phosphates is being credited for the project’s effectiveness. The project replaced a 2.6-mile section of steep switchbacks with a straighter, safer alignment for travelers heading to or from Flaming Gorge. A UDOT release issued on Monday shares that the partnership with Simplot “provided significant support in moving millions of cubic yards of earth for the new road embankments worth $40 million. This innovative funding method helped UDOT deliver the project more efficiently and at a lower cost to taxpayers.” UDOT Region Three Director Rob Clayton calls the project a win-win-win. “It’s a win for the traveling public, who now have a safer and more efficient road; a win for Simplot, which can continue its operations in the area for decades to come; and a win for UDOT, as our partnership allowed us to deliver the project faster and at a lower cost,” states Clayton. Simplot AgriBusiness President G. Rey Reinhardt shares that Simplot is “proud to be part of a solution that strengthens Utah’s rural connectivity and long-term growth.”
