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- calendar_today October 19, 2026
Cedar City Road Project Sparks Debate
A planned road project by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) is fueling discussion among Cedar City business owners, city officials, and residents. At the heart of the issue is a proposed median on Royal Hunte Drive, which is set to be a part of a larger $132 million interchange replacement project in Cedar City's south end.
UDOT's Median Plans and Intentions
UDOT representatives emphasize that the new median is intended to improve road safety. According to UDOT spokesperson Kevin Kitchen, the median would provide storage space for vehicles making left turns, help prevent crashes, and channel pedestrians more safely. Kitchen stated, "It allows us storage space for those left turns it gives us the ability to prevent more crashes and channel pedestrians to the right place as well."
Business Owner Concerns
The proposed changes, however, are not being met with unanimous approval. Local business owner Eric Jenkins, who operates a gas station near Royal Hunte Drive, is especially concerned about how the median could impact his customers and deliveries. "We get some I-15 traffic but a lot of our traffic comes off this lay hill and that's our concern with the big cement median they wanna put up us and the other businesses it will eliminate a lot of our business," Jenkins explained. He expressed that the median could significantly inconvenience customers, particularly regarding access to his convenience store.
City Council Response and Communication Issues
City Council member Robert Cox has also expressed reservations about the current project design. While both the city council and UDOT recognize the importance of safety and efficient traffic flow, Cox indicated that businesses on both sides of Royal Hunte Drive worry that access will become more difficult for customers. He also brought up logistical concerns, noting that adjustments to the median’s location might require a new environmental study, potentially delaying the project further.
Some critics argue that the communication between UDOT, city leaders, and businesses has been inconsistent and insufficient. Those opposed to the median point to a lack of information and ongoing worries about how the construction impact could affect local business access and operations.
UDOT's Perspective and Project Timeline
UDOT maintains that it has followed established procedures and kept stakeholders informed throughout the project's development. "I think our process has been standard but maybe even above standard quite frankly we've been on this for a couple years had an environmental study we put out for alternatives the city has been aware of this the whole way through," Kitchen explained.
The department states that making substantial design changes at this stage could require redoing studies already completed. UDOT is currently in the bidding phase, with construction anticipated to start in the spring. Both UDOT and city council members acknowledge that any potential modifications might be addressed only after evaluating the project’s effects once the median is complete.
Looking Ahead
As the Cedar City road project progresses toward construction, the conversation over UDOT's median plans, business owner concerns, and city council response shows no sign of slowing. The ultimate impact on local business access and overall Cedar City traffic flow will become clearer once the Royal Hunte Drive median is built and in operation.
Source: fox13now.com.
