Beginning next week, Ogden Canyon's State Route 39 will enact a permanent ban on vehicles over 50 feet in length, a safety initiative spurred by a series of tragic events. In a recent announcement by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), these longer vehicles will no longer traverse the canyon's precarious paths, including a section ominously known as "The Narrows." According to UDOT News, this decision follows a meticulous technical analysis and the harrowing death toll of five individuals since 2015.
UDOT's engineers have modeled the movements of large trucks within the canyon and found that vehicles exceeding the 50-foot limit struggle to maneuver the constricted spaces without imposing oncoming traffic. Starting Monday, Sept. 22, drivers with larger loads will need to find alternative routes to avoid penalties. Alongside this measure, UDOT is implementing further safety protocols, including the reduction of speed limits to 35 mph within The Narrows and the installation of radar speed feedback signs.
"This is the right thing to do," shared UDOT Region One's Senior Communications Manager, Mitch Shaw, emphasizing the dual responsibility between traffic engineering and public adherence to road safety. Shaw stressed the importance of drivers securing their loads, maintaining adequate space from other vehicles, and exercising caution. "We really need people to pay attention, slow down and put down the distractions, especially when driving in the canyon," Shaw said, as per UDOT News.
