Motorists planning to navigate near the University of Utah may need to rethink their routes starting Monday, May 5, as the city has scheduled construction work to rebuild 100 South between University Street and North Campus Drive. Salt Lake City is tackling the project to replace the old pavement and to enhance safety for road users, making sure the work is neatly tucked between the end of university commencement festivities and the start of the fall semester in mid-August, an approach that seems to acknowledge the rhythms of student life and the ebb and flow of campus traffic.
Mayor Erin Mendenhall emphasized the urgency of maintaining access to the medical facilities on campus, including University Hospital, Primary Children’s Hospital, and Huntsman Cancer Institute during the construction period, highlighting that "It’s important that we ensure safe, reliable access to our world-class medical institutions on the University of Utah campus—University Hospital, Primary Children’s Hospital, and Huntsman Cancer Institute," as she reportedly stated according to Salt Lake City. To this end, traffic will be rerouted to accommodate eastbound (uphill) travel on two lanes along 100 South, closing it off for westbound access during the heavy lifting of construction.
With the university's staff and patients in mind, detours are planned, sending those exiting the medical and academic campuses to Mario Capecchi Drive instead, while access to the university will still be open, and city officials are nudging all non-medical drivers to find different routes around 100 South to reduce congestion and complications. Chris Nelson, Chief University of Utah Relations Officer, shared a tone of collaboration in his appreciation for the city's planning efforts, saying "The University of Utah appreciates the thoughtful planning and close coordination between Salt Lake City and our healthcare institutions to maintain critical access for patients and caregivers throughout the summer," as per Salt Lake City.
