Utah State Route 179
State Route 179, also known as the Midvalley Highway, is a highway in the U.S. state of Utah. It runs through the northern part of the Tooele Valley, located in eastern Tooele County.
Route description
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.