UDOT Pushes Forward With Controversial U-Turn Plan for Sardine Canyon Entrance

State transportation officials are moving ahead with a significant and controversial overhaul of a notoriously dangerous intersection at the mouth of Sardine Canyon.

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) has confirmed plans for a new traffic pattern in Wellsville, specifically where U.S. 89/91 meets Center Street.

This intersection has been the site of dozens of accidents over the past five years.

Data from early 2019 to the end of 2023 reveals a troubling history, with 52 crashes recorded at or near this single location.

Among those incidents were four severe sideswipes or head-on collisions, and tragically, one fatal crash, with another fatality occurring nearby in 2018.

“We can’t just sit and let it remain the way it is,” one official stated, emphasizing the urgent need for change.

The planned solution is a restricted crossing U-turn, or RCUT, a design intended to eliminate risky left turns and straight crossings over high-speed highway traffic.

Under the new system, drivers on Center Street wanting to go left or straight will be required to turn right onto the highway and then use a dedicated, downstream U-turn to proceed in their desired direction.

This marks a fundamental shift in how Cache Valley drivers will navigate this key artery.

However, the proposal has not been without criticism.

Some residents and local leaders in Cache County voiced a preference for a much larger, freeway-style interchange.

State officials countered that such a project would cost over $100 million.

They argue the current traffic volume simply doesn't justify that level of expenditure.

The approved RCUT project is dramatically more affordable, with a price tag of just $6.3 million.

UDOT projects this redesigned intersection will effectively serve the community's needs until at least 2050, by which point population growth might warrant a more extensive interchange.

Concerns have also been raised by farmers and those hauling large trailers, questioning their ability to navigate the proposed U-turns.

Despite the debate, the project is officially on the books.

Construction on the Sardine Canyon intersection is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2026 and is expected to be completed by that winter.

Drivers should anticipate significant changes to their daily commutes and prepare for a new way of accessing one of Cache Valley's most critical routes.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why is UDOT changing the Sardine Canyon intersection in Wellsville?

The primary driver is safety. The intersection of U.S. 89/91 and Center Street saw 52 crashes, including a fatality, in a recent five-year period. The new design aims to reduce high-risk maneuvers across fast-moving traffic.

What is a restricted crossing U-turn (RCUT)?

It's a traffic design that prohibits left turns and straight-through movements from a smaller road onto a major highway. Instead, drivers must turn right and use a designated median U-turn lane to change direction, which prevents crossing multiple lanes of high-speed traffic.

When will construction on the Sardine Canyon traffic project begin?

Construction is planned to start in spring 2026. The project is expected to be finished by winter of the same year, with commuters in Cache Valley advised to plan for detours and delays.