Bluffdale makes history with new tunnel project under active rail line

BLUFFDALE, Utah (ABC4) — The City of Bluffdale announced that it will permanently close the 14600 South underpass between Spring View Parkway and 1010 West on Monday, in order to create a new tunnel.

The stretch of 14600 South is one of the main east-west routes between Bluffdale and Riverton. But come mid-November, this narrow underpass will close for good, and drivers will soon need to take alternate routes while construction begins on a safer, wider tunnel.

Nearly 11,000 vehicles drive through the one-lane Bluffdale underpass every day, the tight tunnel between Spring View Parkway and 1010 West.

For drivers like Jose Juarez, it’s a daily commute that’s getting harder.

“It’s getting very busy, especially in the morning, like the other week. The traffic was from I-15 all the way to the roundabout, and it was just at a standstill,” Juarez said.

Recognizing the growing traffic and development in Bluffdale, the city plans to replace the old underpass with a new two-way, four-lane tunnel, complete with multi-use trails for pedestrians and cyclists.

“I think it will help with the flow, and a lot of new things are getting built south of the roundabout, and lots of people are trying to bypass traffic already along Bangerter,” Juarez said.

Mayor Natalie Hall of Bluffdale said this is for the greater good of the growing population of Bluffdale and the surrounding areas.

“There are very few ways in the valley to get east west, and 146th in Bluffdale is our main way to get east west and west east, and because we are growing, and the entire valley, because of the growth, it’s affecting the traffic in getting east west,” Hall said.

Bluffdale is making history by becoming the first city in the U.S. to use an Italian construction process called “Box Jacking.”

The method allows crews to push a large tunnel under active train tracks without stopping train service. 

“We will be working directly with Union Pacific and Utah Transit Authority (UTA) personnel and make sure they have people watching over us, making sure we have a safe environment for the trains,” city planner of Bluffdale Michael Fazio said.

This area will be closed off for a year, but Juarez can see how some might be frustrated.

“Especially in that gully that’s on the other side, on the west side of the railroad, I think people will be annoyed because there will be even more traffic than right now,” Juarez said.

The project, funded by the state and the city, comes with a price tag of nearly $70 million.

Drivers can use detours during construction.

• From the west side to I-15, take Redwood Road north to Bangerter Highway eastbound.
• From the east side to Redwood Road…go south on Porter Rockwell Boulevard.

The new route is set to open in the winter of 2026.

An open house for residents will be held on November 13th at Hidden Valley Middle School from 6:30 to 8 p.m.