Utah State Route 173 Explained

State:UT
Type:SR
Route:173
Alternate Name:5400 South/5300 South
Section:123
Map Custom:yes
Length Mi:9.939
Length Round:3
Length Ref:[1]
Established:1965
Direction A:West
Terminus A: in West Valley City
Junction: in West Valley City
in Taylorsville
in Taylorsville
in Murray
Direction B:East
Terminus B: in Murray
Previous Type:SR
Previous Route:172
Next Type:SR
Next Route:174

State Route 173 is a major east - west thoroughfare completely within Salt Lake County in northern Utah. From its western terminus at SR-111 it passes through the growing west side of Salt Lake County, eventually reaching US-89 in Murray.

Route description

Starting at its western terminus in West Valley City, SR-173 (which is routed on 5400 South) heads east through West Valley City, passing by the USANA Amphitheatre. Continuing east, the route enters Kearns, passing by the Utah Olympic Oval and Kearns High School before entering Taylorsville and crossing the Bangerter Highway. Shortly thereafter, the route crosses under I-215 and passes Taylorsville High School at the Redwood Road (SR-68) continuous flow intersection. The route continues eastward, crossing a canal before descending a steep hill to the Jordan River as it enters Murray and shifts slightly to the north (taking the name 5300 South). East of its single-point urban interchange with I-15, the route passes under the Union Pacific, UTA's FrontRunner, and TRAX (Blue and Red) rail lines as they run close together at the approach to Murray Central Station, and Cottonwod Street passes over the TRAX line and SR-173 simultaneously on a high viaduct. Emerging from the trench under the railroads, SR-173 passes Intermountain Medical Center (the largest hospital in the Intermountain West) and Murray High School before ending at US-89 (State Street) near Murray City Park.

The entire route is included as part of the National Highway System.[2]

History

The State Road Commission created State Route 173 in 1965, following 5300 South between SR-68 and SR-271 (US-89), in order to improve access to I-15. The state legislature extended it west to SR-111 in 1969.[3] In 2012, reversible lanes, referred to locally as "flex lanes", were installed between Bangerter Highway and 1900 West.[4]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: State Route 173 Highway reference . .
  2. Web site: Utah National Highway System. UDOT Data Portal. January 22, 2019.
  3. [Utah Department of Transportation]
  4. Web site: Utah's first flex lanes system opens on 5400 South in Taylorsville. 7 November 2012.