South Salt Lake City has launched several major construction projects that will reshape its roads, utilities and public facilities over the next few years. While city officials acknowledge the projects may cause short-term headaches for residents, the necessary improvements will deliver long-term benefits in public safety, efficiency and quality of life, they say.

“People hate construction, and we have heard as much from several residents,” said city spokesperson Joseph Dane. “But it’s a necessary short-term pain to get better road drainage, new water/sewer pipes, accessible sidewalks, etc.”

The list of work includes the full reconstruction of 700 West, the replacement of two bridges, upgrades on six residential roads, the construction of a $45-million public works campus and a new community plaza.

The UDOT-funded reconstruction of 700 West between 3300 South and 3900 South started Oct. 6 and will run through next summer.  During construction the road will be narrowed to one-way traffic, southbound only, for several months.

"It’s an old road, and it’s beat up by industrial traffic, and it has been in need of new infrastructure, better sidewalks," Dane said. While access to businesses will be maintained, the traffic changes will impact commuters and parents, particularly those traveling to Olene Walker Elementary, which is near the construction zone.

The city is also starting replacement of two aging bridges over Mill Creek. Work on the 200 East bridge began in early October and is slated to continue until March or April, with the 300 East bridge replacement following in the spring.

The 200 East project poses a significant challenge due to its proximity to Granite Park Junior High, said Dane who planned to meet with school officials to address its impact and solutions for student pick up and drop off. 

The city will mail postcards to immediately impacted residents and directly communicate with parents to ensure safety, he said. The bridges, graded “fair” and “moderate” by UDOT, are being replaced to upgrade outdated culvert systems.

Separately, six residential roads are also under construction for full overhauls, including new storm drains, sewer and water pipes.

The largest single-item project is the new public works campus, a $45-million investment on Oakland Avenue at West Temple for which the city has obtained a favorable bond. The campus will be 82,697 square feet spread throughout two buildings and three covered, outdoor storage facilities.

"The public works campus is necessary because we have completely outgrown our existing public works space," Dane said. “We prioritized a new public works campus because it was important for the future, the next 50 years of construction for our city, both for efficiency, having everybody under one roof so we can work and communicate better together, for public safety, for employees to work quicker, work better, work safer and get public safety cars back on the road quicker.”

The current facilities are scattered, and fleet mechanics currently work "out in the elements and it has not been a wonderful experience for them,” Dane said

The new campus will consolidate services, improving efficiency, communication and, critically, allowing for "quicker turnaround on public safety vehicles," he added.

Construction is phased, with the northern portion of the campus expected to be operational by March 2026, and the administrative offices following in February 2027.

Adjacent to that project, the city has plans to repaint the city’s historic water tower and develop a community plaza there to be used for hosting public events.

“It's kind of the icon of the city; it's our mascot, if you will,” Dane said. “So this was our opportunity to do something community oriented there at that site.”

Beyond roads and facilities, the city is also upgrading its water system infrastructure, with the city budgeting for about 2,500 feet of new water pipes annually. A long-term project involves the Price Avenue Well, which has recently finished drilling. This new well is part of the city's plan to prepare for population growth over the next 50 years. The city is taking advantage of the UDOT bridge work to coordinate the installation of a new water main connection under the 300 East bridge, Dane said.

These projects can be disruptive and Dane asked residents to be patient. “These temporary inconveniences are essential for a stronger, more modern South Salt Lake,” he said. “There’s just a lot happening right now.”

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