LEHI, UT — The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) recently opened a new lane in each direction on Pioneer Crossing (State Route 145), increasing capacity by 50 percent and helping move more traffic through one of northwest Utah County’s busiest corridors. Morning commuters are now able to use the new lanes along 4.5 miles of Pioneer Crossing between Lehi and Saratoga Springs, Utah.
“If you’ve ever driven along Pioneer Crossing, you know how needed this project is,” UDOT Region Three Director Rob Clayton said. “Opening these lanes will make a noticeable difference and provide a more reliable commute for the thousands of people who rely on this road every day.”
The lanes opened two months ahead of schedule thanks to a dry winter, strong coordination between UDOT and contractor WW Clyde, and innovative construction approaches. Crews reused materials on site and recycled concrete from demolished sections of Pioneer Crossing to keep work moving.
Construction will continue through late 2026 as crews complete remaining work.
When complete, the project is expected to save drivers more than six minutes a day in travel time. Overall the new Flex Lanes will reduce congestion by more than 900 hours each day for drivers. Ultimately, during peak travel times, drivers will have up to four lanes in the peak direction (eastbound lanes in the morning and four westbound lanes in the evening).
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Without these improvements, travel times are expected to increase significantly. By 2037, evening westbound travel on Pioneer Crossing would increase from about 19 minutes to 32 minutes, while morning eastbound travel would increase from 14 minutes to 20 minutes.
By the end of the year, Pioneer Crossing will transition to Flex Lanes between I-15 and Redwood Road. Flex Lanes allow UDOT to adjust the number of lanes in each direction to match daily traffic patterns and demand, helping reduce backups and improve travel times.
Northwest Utah County has seen several recent transportation improvements, including a new segment of Mountain View Corridor that saves commuters up to 12 minutes in each direction and the start of construction on 2100 North.
“Each of these projects plays a valuable role in what we call ‘connectivity,’” Clayton said. “They support major corridors like Mountain View and I-15, while also helping local trips to school, work, and recreation. Progress on Pioneer Crossing brings us one step closer to giving drivers more travel options across the region.”
