1700 South (900 East to 1100 East)

This segment of 1700 South currently has one vehicle travel lane in each direction, an eastbound bike lane, and on-street parking on the north side of the street. People heading westbound on bicycles share the lane with 30 MPH vehicle traffic.

The new lane configuration removes on-street parking on the north side of the street to create space for a westbound bike lane.

700 East (South Temple to 300 South)

There are two sections of 700 East with differing proposed lane reconfigurations: South Temple to 100 South and 100 South to 300 South.

South Temple to 100 South currently has three vehicle travel lanes in each direction. The new concept converts one vehicle travel lane in each direction to a wide buffered bike lane. This block of 700 East has lower vehicle traffic volumes, as many drivers take 100 South and 400 South to the University of Utah.

100 South to 300 South also has three vehicle travel lanes in each direction. The new concept slightly narrows each travel lane to make space for a bike lane in each direction.

The addition of bike lanes will improve connectivity, making it easier for residents cycling to reach businesses, housing, and nearby bike routes along 700 East.

There will be minimal on-street parking changes as part of this project.

500 North (800 West to 1200 West)

This segment of 500 North spans more than 60 feet in width! Due to the ample width, we are proposing to add bike lanes from 800 West to 1200 West. This bike route will connect to the existing north-south bike routes in the Fairpark neighborhood.

What Is a Surface Treatment?

Surface treatments are a type of asphalt maintenance designed to extend the lifespan of the roadway. They also restore texture to the road surface and improve resistance to water intrusion and oxidation. Depending on the existing condition of the asphalt pavement, a surface treatment can extend the lifespan of the road up to seven years! The Salt Lake City Streets Division performs two types of surface treatments: slurry seal and chip seal.

A slurry seal is the application of a mixture of water, asphalt emulsion, aggregate (very small crushed rock), and other additives to an asphalt pavement surface. On the afternoon before the day of the surface treatment, “No Parking” signs are placed alongside the road. During the day of the slurry seal, the road is closed and street sweepers clean the asphalt surface. Then a slurry truck comes along to apply the treatment to the road. Slurry seal only takes about 2-4 hours to set, which means the entire process is typically completed in a single day.

A chip seal is a multiple step process that is completed over the course of several days. On the afternoon before a surface treatment, “No Parking” signs are placed alongside the road. During the first day, crews begin by closing the road and sweeping the street to remove debris. Next, an oil tanker truck sprays oil onto the road surface. A “chipper” truck follows closely behind to spread a thin layer of “chip” (a small pea-sized rock) over the fresh coat of oil. The aggregate is embedded into the oil with the help of drum rollers. When the entire road has been chip sealed, street sweepers make another pass to remove any loose aggregate.

The surface treatment is then given 24-48 hours to set before the final fog seal stage. The roadway is re-opened to the public while the surface treatment sets. Please adhere to the temporary 15 MPH speed limit signs throughout this time. During the fog seal phase, the road is closed once again and another coat of oil is applied. This final seal improves the performance of the initial chip seal and has the additional benefit of turning the road black, improving its aesthetic appeal. The road is then re-opened once the fog seal has set.

Watch a video detailing the chip seal process.

After the completion of the surface treatment, the Streets Division lays down a fresh coat of roadway striping. Most streets are re-striped exactly how they were. However, the Transportation Division makes striping improvements to a handful of roads each year. Learn about these striping improvement projects here.

Prior to the application of a surface treatment, the city performs other maintenance operations to prepare the road for a surface treatment. This includes sealing cracks and replacing sections of deteriorating asphalt on roadways in otherwise fair condition. This work typically occurs in the fall and spring before surface treatment operations begin in the summer.

What are my responsibilities during a surface treatment?

Do not park on the street from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. until the “No Parking” signs are removed.

Do not allow sprinklers to water the street the day of the surface treatment.

Stay out of the construction zone.

If applicable, follow temporary speed limit signs.

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My vehicle was towed off of my street. How can I find it?

Vehicles left on the street the morning of the surface treatment operation will be towed to a nearby street so the road can be resurfaced. Our team documents the address of relocated vehicles and reports this information to the police department to ensure the vehicle is not reported stolen. Please give us a call at 801-535-2345 to retrieve your relocated vehicle.

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Will this interfere with my weekly trash pick up?

The Salt Lake City Street Division coordinates the timing of the road maintenance with the Waste & Recycling Division. This project will not interfere with weekly waste and recycling service.

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How long will my street be closed?

The length of the street closure is determined by a variety of factors including the type of surface treatment, the weather, and the complexity of the roadway. Slurry seal sets faster and is a single-stage operation, so the road is typically closed at 7 a.m. and re-opened sometime in the early afternoon, depending on how quickly the slurry seal sets. To prevent material sticking to your vehicle, tracking onto your property, and damaging the new road surface, please do not drive or walk on the fresh road surface until the roadway is reopened.

A chip seal is a multi-step process that takes place over the course of several days. However, the roadway will only be closed for two days: once during the chip seal phase and once again during the fog seal phase. During the chip and fog seal processes, the road will be closed at 7 a.m. and re-opened sometime in the early afternoon. In between these two phases, while the initial chip seal is given time to set, the roadway will be open to traffic. During this time, the roadway surface may have loose gravel, so please adhere to the 15 MPH speed limit to stay safe and prevent damage to your vehicle.

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Will I have access to my driveway during the surface treatment?

The Salt Lake City Streets team strives to minimize disruption to residents and businesses. Please reach out to us at 801-535-2345 if you have special needs.

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Why does the city change the striping layout on certain roads?

Surface treatments provide excellent opportunities for the Salt Lake City Transportation Division to make improvements to roadway striping. These changes enhance roadway safety and make it easier for people to travel throughout the city, regardless of what mode of transportation you choose to take.

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What is a lane reconfiguration?

A lane reconfiguration reduces the number of vehicle travel lanes on a roadway with the intent of increasing roadway safety and reallocating the remaining space to other modes of transportation or other public serving uses. A lane reconfiguration is intended to increase livability, safety, and mobility for all roadway users. The City has been revising the lane striping on roadways for years in order to better accommodate travel needs and safety of roadway users. Since the early 2000s over a dozen roadways have undergone lane reconfigurations, ranging from larger seven lane roadways like North Temple to roadways in residential areas like 1300 East.

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Why do you seem to do so many lane reconfigurations as part of resurfacing projects?

A lane reconfiguration is one of the changes that can be made by striping and signing only, which is why it is commonly implemented during a resurfacing project. The surface treatment covers all existing paint on the road, resulting in a blank slate and providing us the opportunity to reduce the number of vehicle travel lanes. If determined appropriate by the Transportation Division, the number , size, and location of vehicle travel lanes can be changed as part of a surface treatment project to better meet the overall needs of the transportation network.

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Why can’t you add additional transportation projects to the roadway during a resurfacing treatment?

Surface treatments are maintenance efforts scheduled based on asphalt quality. In some instances, we coordinate transportation projects with maintenance-oriented surface treatments. However, since transformative transportation projects often take years to develop, secure funding for, design, and construct, it is often impractical to postpone a surface treatment to coincide with the construction of a nearby transportation project.

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Can the signs be replaced with flashing signs and speed radar signs as part of the surface treatment?

Typically, signage upgrades are not a part of the City’s surface treatment for a roadway. The surface treatment is meant to prolong the life of the asphalt and is independent of signage upgrades. If the striping is being changed as part of a surface treatment project, then signage changes will be made to ensure that the new roadway layout is signed appropriately.

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Will you be reconstructing the street?

No, the surface treatment is not a full reconstruction. The surface treatment is used to prolong the life of the current asphalt roadway and delay future roadway reconstruction. Roadway reconstructions are significantly more expensive, time consuming, and impactful to road users. It involves removing and replacing all asphalt (and sometimes road base, curb, gutter, and sidewalk). A surface treatment is simply applied on top of the existing asphalt and is more economical and faster to implement than a reconstruction.

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If my street is receiving a surface treatment this year, does that mean it’s going to be reconstructed soon?

Probably not. In fact, if your street is in good enough condition to receive a surface treatment, then it’s likely that it isn’t near the top of the list for a full reconstruction.

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My street looks to be in really poor condition, will it be resurfaced soon?

Probably not. When the condition of a street is too poor, it will need to eventually receive a full roadway reconstruction. Applying a surface treatment to a street with poor or degraded asphalt will have little to no effect on extending the life of the roadway. It is also a waste of public resources because the surface treatment will be replaced by an inevitable roadway reconstruction.

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Why are surface treatments rescheduled?

Surface treatment operations are typically rescheduled for two reasons: weather and equipment breakdowns. Surface treatments require warm temperatures and fair weather. On occasion, a typical Utah summer thunderstorm passes through to rain on our parade. Other times, our complex surface treatment equipment doesn’t perform the way we’d like it to. In the case of an equipment breakdown or poor weather, we will post a notification on your door and reschedule the surface treatment project.

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Why does the city use two different types of surface treatments?

Slurry seal and chip seal are designed for different roadway conditions. If a roadway is in poor condition, the city will typically apply a chip seal. This type of treatment utilizes small pea-sized pieces of gravel, which makes the treatment more robust and longer lasting. For roadways in fair to new condition, a slurry seal is a more appropriate treatment.

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My road was reconstructed last year. Why is the city already working on it again?

The best time to perform a surface treatment is one to two years after a road is constructed. The surface treatment re-seals the road to prevent water intrusion which can quickly deteriorate the condition of the asphalt. Completing this process soon after a road is constructed provides the greatest possible benefit to the longevity of the asphalt.

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How does the city determine what roads receive a surface treatment?

The streets that receive a surface treatment each year are selected based on the OCI (overall condition index), type of road (arterial, collector, or local), cost-effectiveness, and suitability. The Streets Division performs chip and slurry seal surface treatments to city streets that have a fair to good condition. Out of the 155 lane miles targeted for maintenance each year, approximately 100 lane miles are slurry sealed, 50 lanes miles are chip sealed, and 5 lane miles are inlays. The program begins surface treatment operations in May and continues through September.

Timeline

Early Spring: Project announcement

Late Spring: Draft striping layout available for community input on roads with potential striping changes

3-4 weeks before surface treatment: Final striping layout available on website and door hanger notice sent to residents that outlines what to expect during the surface treatment project

Summer: Street is resurfaced and restriped (if applicable)

Funding

2023

400 East (400 South to 1300 South and 1700 South to 2100 South)

In the summer of 2023, Salt Lake City resurfaced 400 East from 400 South to 1300 South and from 1700 South to 2100 South. 400 East between 400 South and 900 South has relatively low vehicle traffic volumes that can be supported by one vehicle travel lane in each direction. Therefore, one northbound and one southbound vehicle travel lane was removed and parking protected bike lanes were added. This lane reconfiguration has several benefits:

• Reduction of rear-end and left-turn crashes due to the dedicated left-turn lane

• Reduced right-angle crashes as side street motorists cross three versus four travel lanes

• Fewer lanes for pedestrians to cross

• Opportunity to install bicycle lanes and future improvements

• Traffic calming effect and more consistent speeds

• A more community-focused, Complete Streets environment that better accommodates the needs of all road users

A parking protected bike lane moves the on-street vehicle parking away from the curb and gutter. The bike lane now sits between the curb and the on-street parking. The line of parked vehicles in the roadway act as a physical barrier between moving vehicles and cyclists in the bike lane. This style of bike lane is safer and more comfortable for cyclists compared to a standard painted bike lane. Experienced cyclists can still choose to ride in the vehicle travel lanes if they desire.

Previous 400 East design between 400 South and 900 South

New 400 East design between 400 South and 900 South with parking protected bike lanes

Before

After

500 East (600 South to 900 South)

In the summer of 2023, Salt Lake City resurfaced 500 East from 400 South to 900 South. The changes included the removal of one northbound and one southbound travel lane and the addition of new buffered bike lanes. This lane configuration matches what exists south of 900 South in front of Liberty Park.

In the area between 400 South and 500 South, only the southbound lanes were modified to accommodate the change in travel lanes further south. The new striping consists of one travel lane in each direction with buffered bike lanes and on-street parking. Near the intersections, parking was restricted to accommodate a left turn pocket. The new parking restrictions generally match the parking restrictions prior to the striping change.

Previous Lane Configuration

New Lane Configuration

Conditions Before Lane Reconfiguration

900 East (2700 South to Millcreek City Boundary)

In 2023, Salt Lake City restriped 900 East from 2700 South to Millcreek City boundary near Elgin Avenue.  Changes included the removal of the center turn lane and the addition of bike lanes. The new configuration consists of one vehicle travel lane and one bike lane in each direction. Minimal changes were made to the on-street parking. Near the intersection at 2700 South, parking was restricted to make space for a left turn queue at the traffic signal. This lane configuration maintains the same level of vehicle traffic and parking while making the roadway more comfortable and safe for all roadway users.

Previous Lane Configuration

New Lane Configuration

Before

After

1700 South (300 West to Redwood Road) – Postponed

In the summer of 2023, Salt Lake City plans to resurface 1700 South from 300 West to Redwood Road. This resurfacing presents an exciting opportunity for the City and community to reimagine changes to striping on this stretch of street between the newly constructed 300 West bikeway and the forthcoming Glendale Regional Park.

The Transportation Division has already created a concept for the stretch between 300 West and 900 West that removes one vehicle travel lane in each direction while also creating wider and more comfortable buffered bike lanes. The Transportation Division has analyzed traffic volume data for the full project extent and is confident that one vehicle travel lane in each direction will support the relatively low vehicle traffic volumes on this corridor. This lane reconfiguration has several benefits:

• Reduced right-angle crashes as side street motorists cross three versus four travel lanes

• Fewer lanes for pedestrians to cross

• Opportunity to improve bike lanes and future improvements

• Traffic calming effect and more consistent speeds

• A more community-focused, Complete Streets environment that better accommodates the needs of all road users

Existing Street Layout – 300 West to 900 West

Proposed Street Layout – 300 West to 900 West

Existing Conditions – 300 West to 900 West