HEAL Supports the Decision to Abandon I-15 Expansion in Central Salt Lake

UDOT Drops Plans to Widen I-15 in Central Salt Lake, Doubles Down on Plans to Widen Legacy Parkway

Contact:

Katie Balakir

HEAL Utah

katie@healutah.org, (801) 355-5055

Salt Lake City, UT (Sept 9) – On August 20, 2025 the Salt Lake Tribune reported that the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) scrapped its controversial plan to expand I-15 through the heart of Salt Lake, from 600 North to 400 South. Instead, UDOT will focus its efforts on the stretch of I-15 from 600 North to Farmington, with plans to widen the roadway to five general lanes and an HOV lane.

UDOT also reaffirmed its intent to move forward with environmental review to widen Legacy Parkway, a move that has raised concerns among residents and environmental advocates. The proposed expansion would add a lane in each direction along a roadway that borders sensitive Great Salt Lake wetlands.

Throughout the environmental review process for the I-15 project, communities voiced strong opposition to the expansion through central Salt Lake. Residents and advocates raised concerns about the compounding impacts of air pollution, destruction of homes, and the exacerbation of the long-standing West-East divide in Salt Lake City. 

HEAL Utah, NeighborWorks Salt Lake, and Westside Coalition support UDOT’s decision to abandon the Salt Lake segment of the I-15 project. They also call on the agency to apply the same level of scrutiny to the proposed Legacy Parkway widening and to prioritize investments in transit, clean air, and improving mobility throughout all communities—especially communities that have been disproportionately impacted by past infrastructure decisions.
 

“It is heartening to see that community advocates who spoke up against a project that would destroy homes and businesses have prevailed, and that there are even some positive developments with plans to still move forward with redoing the 600 North pedestrian overpass,” said Lexi Tuddenham, Executive Director of the Healthy Environmental Alliance of Utah (HEAL Utah) “We continue to be concerned about the impacts of further highway expansion on air quality, communities, and protected wetlands.”

“We are relieved that UDOT has abandoned the I-15 expansion through the Guadalupe, Fairpark, and Poplar Grove neighborhoods in Salt Lake, protecting homes from demolition through eminent domain—many of which NeighborWorks Salt Lake built and are owner-occupied by long-term residents,” said Bryce Garner, CEO of NeighborWorks Salt Lake.

While UDOT’s revised I-15 plan spares at least 14 homes from demolition, reduces the project budget by $700 million, and lessens some of the air quality impacts, the decision to pursue the Legacy Parkway expansion is worrisome. Community and environmental groups call for a transparent and inclusive environmental review process and for UDOT to center long-term, people-focused transportation options such as FrontRunner expansion, improved bus service, and safe infrastructure for pedestrians.

For media inquiries or to arrange interviews with coalition representatives, please contact:
 
Katie Balakir
Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah (HEAL Utah)
Email: katie@healutah.org
Phone: 219-688-7505

About HEAL Utah

The Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah (HEAL Utah) has been an environmental advocacy organization, watchdog, and strategic influencer in Utah since 1999. By empowering grassroots advocates, using science-based solutions, and developing common-sense policy, HEAL has a track record of tackling some of the biggest threats to Utah’s environment and public health — and succeeding. The organization focuses on clean air, energy and climate, and radioactive waste. HEAL uses well-researched legislative, regulatory, and individual responsibility approaches to create tangible change, and then utilizes grassroots action to make it happen.

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