Due to pressure from state legislators and local community councils, the
design of the recently-opened 600 North freeway ramp is altered from the Utah
Department of Transportation’s initial plan to include design elements
requested by Salt Lake City.
For example, UDOT’s plan called for 25-foot sound walls, galvanized steel
chain-link fences, and "cobra head" lights. At the City’s request,
UDOT did not install these items and instead donated the money intended for
those items to the City.
The City used the money to install a decorative black steel fence resembling
wrought iron and street lighting on 600 North between 400-900 West similar to
the cast-metal, "cactus pole" lights in the downtown area. The City
also requested that the "mountain theme" design on most new I-15
bridges not be included at 600 North, in order to create an "urban
theme" at this location.
The viaduct has been shortened to touch down at 400 West, and efforts have
been made to funnel traffic onto that street rather than onto 300 West,
including the temporary barrier currently in place. The design of the new ramp
supports the City’s traffic plans to divert major traffic from the West
Capitol Hill neighborhood by putting traffic to downtown on 400 West.
