The Midvalley Highway is proposed to begin at SR-36 south of the city of Tooele, proceeding to the northwest. After crossing the Union Pacific Railroad's main line, it will turn to the northeast, passing the east side of the Utah Industrial Depot. After passing the depot, it will turn to the northwest again before crossing SR-112 at 1000 North. The route will cross Sheep Lane and Erda Way before reaching SR-138, where it will turn back to the northeast. It will proceed northeast to a trumpet interchange at Interstate 80, where it will end. At full build-out, the highway will be approximately long, consisting of of arterial and of freeway.
History
Planning
The need for a highway running down the center of the Tooele Valley had been identified by 2001, when it was recognized that the existing SR-36 would not have enough capacity for future traffic volumes. Although initial remedies included widening SR-36 and a new 1000 North extension, planners knew the Midvalley Highway would eventually be needed as a long-term solution. By January 2011, UDOT released an Environmental Impact Statement defining a Preferred Alternative for the route. A Travel Demand and Crash Data Review was completed in November 2013. On May 11, 2018, the Utah Transportation Commission signed a resolution designating State Route 179 as the official number for the Midvalley Highway, defining SR-179 as the proposed highway from SR-138 north to I-80. The same resolution also mandated that SR-138 end at the Midvalley Highway; the segment between there and SR-36 will revert to Tooele County jurisdiction. However, these changes are contingent on the construction of the relevant segment of the new Midvalley Highway, and as such were not included in the 2019 Legislature's annual state highway amendments bill.
Construction
The Utah Department of Transportation is currently working with Tooele County to design Phase 1 of the project. This phase will consist of a two-lane freeway from Interstate 80 to the current SR-138, a distance of. In addition, the existing SR-138 roadway will be realigned, and a new intersection will be constructed at Sheep Lane. Pre-construction work will begin in summer 2019, but major construction is not expected until 2021.
Future
Plans call for the segment between I-80 and SR-112 to be eventually upgraded to a four-lane freeway, with the portion between SR-36 and SR-112 becoming a four-lane arterial. Interchanges are proposed at I-80, SR-138, 1000 North, and the future 3400 North parkway, with at-grade intersections planned for Utah Avenue and SR-36. Grade separations will be provided at the Union Pacific Railroad line, Erda Way, Sheep Lane, and the future Midvalley Trail.
