Over the last 20 years, many sections of US 191 between Crescent Jct and the Utah/Arizona state line have undergone upgrades and reconstructions. A four mile section of highway between Monticello and Blanding, however,has remained much the way it was 50 years ago, when the road was re-aligned and San Juan County politicians have lobbied for highway funds for years. Finally, in 2002 the project gained the attention of the legislature and the governor and work, in earnest, on rebuilding the road began.

A year later, UDOT presented its Environmental Assessment for public scrutiny. The EA must address not just the environmental concerns, but also justify the need for the project and the expense.

While the road is relatively narrow and winding, it had in most regards served the traveling public well. The EA tried to justify the project by showing that the road could not handle the traffic flow. But a traffic capacity survey showed that, in terms of traffic numbers, the road was adequate until the year 2025!

So the EA tried to prove that deer-related accidents in the project area necessitated the reconstruction. But all the documented accidents occurred on the rims, not in the canyon itself, where 80% of the project costs would be incurred.

Despite this information, the road reconstruction began in October 2004. The project was supposed to be finished by November 1, but because of inclement weather last winter, the road will not be completed until next May and daily 15 minute delays will continue. For locals who must drive back and forth from Monticello to Blanding each day, they have endured as much as 80 hours in total construction delays. At best, the new road will save travelers about 15 seconds over the four miles. At this rate locals will recover their lost 80 hours in about 45 years.

The project cost about $10 MILLION...JS