Salt Lake City on Wednesday opened the long‑awaited 400 South Viaduct Trail, a protected multi‑use path that runs along the south edge of the viaduct and creates a continuous east‑west link for people walking and biking. The project wraps the bridge in colorful, artist‑integrated fencing and a new concrete barrier, turning what had been an intimidating stretch of road into a place people can use without feeling exposed. Until now, the viaduct carried fast‑moving traffic and offered little safe space for people outside cars, and the trail adds a dedicated, two‑way path for bikes and pedestrians.
Strut wraps the bridge in color
According to Salt Lake City, the project features "Strut," a public artwork by Seattle artists Laura Haddad and Tom Drugan that runs nearly 2,000 feet along the corridor and is billed as the longest continuous public artwork in Utah. The artist‑designed fence and concrete barrier draw on colors and imagery from the Jordan River, the Wasatch Range, and Poplar Grove’s peafowl tradition to make the viaduct feel like part of the neighborhood rather than a high‑speed thoroughfare.
A safer, separated route across the tracks
Local reporting notes the viaduct once carried six lanes of traffic and was frequently described by city leaders as unsafe and unwelcoming for people walking or biking. In response, the city built new sidewalks, pedestrian ramps, striping, and a concrete barrier between the travel lanes and the two‑way trail. Local coverage puts the combined cost for this project and the 300 West bikeway at about $10.2 million. A state bill passed earlier this month also requires the city to coordinate mitigation measures with the Utah Department of Transportation, and city staff say talks are ongoing, as reported by KSL.
What riders will find
The two‑way path runs roughly from 900 West to 200 West and links to the extended 300 West bikeway and nearby off‑street routes, giving people a more direct route into downtown and to public spaces like Pioneer Park, Salt Lake City says. Construction preserved vehicle capacity while adding median adjustments, improved ramps, and an artist‑integrated barrier that both protects users and acts as public art.
Neighbors and artists celebrate
Poplar Grove neighbors marked the opening with a community bike ride hosted by the Poplar Grove Community Council and partners; the ride began at Neighborhood House and included chances to meet the artists and planners, the neighborhood group's event page says. Mayor Erin Mendenhall also posted about the completion on Facebook, calling the trail a "safer, more direct way" for westside residents to reach downtown and thanking residents and partners for the project, Facebook shows.
What’s next
City transportation staff say they will continue meeting with UDOT to finalize any signage or mitigation details called for under the new state law while monitoring how the facilities perform in regular use. Riders and neighbors can follow community council pages and local coverage for meeting dates and project updates, and local reporting has tracked the early rollout and next steps, per KSL.
