Dec. 2024 | Vol. 10 Iss. 12
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BUSINESSES WORRY AS SR 201 AND 3200 WEST BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION SLOWS CUSTOMER TRAFFIC By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com
J
ose Orozco is holding out hope that he can hold on. His El Paisa Grill in West Valley City is impacted by a months-long road construction project on State Route 201 where it crosses 3200 West along the border of West Valley City and Salt Lake City. The Utah Department of Transportation is currently replacing the bridge that carries the busy freeway over 3200 West in West Valley City. The $14-million project, which started in July, has closed 3200 West to allow for the demolition and reconstruction of two bridge decks carrying east and westbound traffic along the freeway and the on and off ramps at 3200 West. The blockage has made it harder for people to access nearby businesses like El Paisa at 2126 S. 3200 West just south of the construction zone. “We’re down 30% of our sales,” Orozco said. “It’s been a struggle.” Orozco said even running radio and television ads has largely been for naught. Some potential customers are reluctant to endure the inconvenience of taking alternate routes to El Paisa, especially those north of SR 201 where concrete barriers put 3200 West out of commission under the freeway and require a detour to the east or west. “People would rather wait until this is over,” he said. UDOT project manager David Cox said efforts have been made before and during the construction to let businesses know about the project and what steps the department is taking to mitigate the impact on them. To do that, UDOT hired X Factor Strategic Communications to conduct outreach including direct meetings with businesses and social media and email updates to keep them and the public informed about the status of construction and detours around the road work to get to surrounding merchants and other enterprises. “We tried very early in the process to be conscious of those businesses that will be impacted by the project,” Cox Continued page 7
Delvin Chhour, whose family owns My Sugar’s Donut Shopp, says construction on nearby State Route 201 has resulted in a 50% reduction in customer traffic. (Darrell Kirby/City Journals)