A highly anticipated improvement to Highway 40 is underway this week in Uintah County. Last December, UDOT announced plans to add a turning lane at the McCoy Flats turnoff on Highway 40 west of Vernal. The McCoy Flats turnoff was the site of a tragic fatal accident in the spring of 2016 that drew additional attention to the dangerous conditions in that area. According to UDOT Region 3 Communications Manager Eileen Barron, UDOT shortly after began to design plans to widen Highway 40 in that area to accommodate left turn lanes in both directions and widen shoulders at McCoy Flats. The work begins after milepost 137 and ends before milepost 139. Work started on Monday and is expected to be complete by mid-October. Brief traffic delays may occur and motorists are asked to travel slowly and safely through the work zone. The project value is listed by UDOT at $1,652,548 dollars.
