Utah State Route 161
State Route 161 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
SR-161 in red | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Defined by Utah Code §72-4-122 | ||||
| Maintained by UDOT | ||||
| Length | 3.084 mi[1] (4.963 km) | |||
| Existed | 1965–present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end |  I-70 near Cove Fort | |||
| North end |  I-15 near Cove Fort | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| State | Utah | |||
| Counties | Millard | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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State Route 161 (SR-161) is a 3.084-mile (4.963 km) long state highway, designated as a rural major connector, completely within Millard County in central Utah. The highway connects Interstate 70 (I-70) to I-15 while providing service to historic Cove Fort. The route was once part of U.S. Route 91 (US-91), but was renumbered to SR-161 in the 1970s, in parallel with the construction of I-70.
Route description
Located entirely in southeastern Millard County,[2] SR-161 starts at a diamond interchange with the westernmost exit on I-70 before it terminates at I-15. The road continues northward until it reaches the historic Cove Fort and the associated visitors center. On the eastern side of the highway is a Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) maintenance center. SR-161 starts to make a gentle turn to the northeast, passing a filling station, which also serves as a rest area as part of a public–private partnership between UDOT and the owners of the station.[1] The highway intersects I-15 and comes to an end at a cattle guard on Black Rock Road northwest of the interchange with I-15.[3]
In 2007, a daily average of 455 cars traveled along SR-161, representing only a slight growth from previous years; in 2006, the average was 450 and in 2005, 415).[4] Thirty five percent of this traffic was composed of trucks.[5] The average traffic measurement is collected at a point on SR-161 between Cove Fort and the interchange with I-15.
History
The SR-161 designation has been used three other times for other state routes. The first route, formed in 1933 and decommissioned in 1935, began in the town of Woodruff and headed east approximately two miles. The second route, which was formed in 1935, connected US-50/US-89/US-91 (now US-89) to SR-68 in Bluffdale until the route was decommissioned in 1953. From May 8, 1961, to February 14, 1964, the route number was used for a road from US-91 to I-15 in the city of Beaver.[6]
The parallel T-beam bridges that carry I-15 over SR-161 at its northern terminus were constructed in 1966 along with the construction of I-15 though the area.[7] The bridges carrying I-70 over SR-161 were constructed in 1973.[8][9]
The current route, codified into Utah law in 1965 and designated on signage following the decommissioning of US-91 in the 1970s, was partially a former alignment of US-91. Once I-70 was completed the 1.07 mi (1.72 km) long segment of US-91 as well as the roadway to the north was designated SR-161 by the Utah State Department of Highways. No significant changes have been made to the roadway except for its legal definition.[6] SR-161 serves the important function of providing access to the contracted rest area as well as the historic Cove Fort. As of 2009 no new projects are scheduled for SR-161, either through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act or the UDOT Statewide Transportation Improvement Program.[10][11]
Major intersections
The entire route is in Millard County.
| Location | mi[1] | km | Destinations | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | 0.000– 0.080 | 0.000– 0.129 |  I-70 to I-15 – Richfield | Exit 1 on I-70; southern terminus. | |
| | 2.812– 3.071 | 4.525– 4.942 | I-15 – Cedar City, Salt Lake City | Exit 135 on I-15 | |
| | 3.084 | 4.963 | Black Rock Road Cattle guard | Northern terminus | |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
References
- ^ a b c "Highway Reference Online - SR-161". Utah Department of Transportation. May 2008. Retrieved September 30, 2008.
- ^ General Highway Map — Millard County (Map). Utah Department of Transportation. 2005. p. 6. Retrieved September 30, 2008.
- ^ Google (September 30, 2008). "SR-161 Overview" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved September 30, 2008.
- ^ "Traffic Statistics". Utah Department of Transportation. 2007. Retrieved September 30, 2008.
- ^ "Traffic Statistics". Utah Department of Transportation. 2007. Retrieved September 30, 2008.
- ^ a b "State Road Resolutions SR-161.pdf". Utah Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 30, 2008.
- ^ "++++++++0D+745". National Bridge Inventory. United States Department of Transportation. 2009. Retrieved August 15, 2009.
- ^ "++++++++2F+193". National Bridge Inventory. United States Department of Transportation. 2009. Retrieved August 15, 2009.
- ^ "++++++++4F+193". National Bridge Inventory. United States Department of Transportation. 2009. Retrieved August 15, 2009.
- ^ "Statewide Transportation Improvement Program". Utah Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 15, 2009.
- ^ "The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act". Utah Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 15, 2009.