Street project approved for Highways 191, 491

The City of Monticello has been notified that approximately $15 million has been approved to completely rebuild Highways 191 and 491 this summer. The Utah Department of Transportation is expected to seek bids on the project in April and begin construction in June.

City officials are delighted to hear the news, particularly since the projects recently had been delayed. In the Fall of 2008, the projects were delayed by UDOT, with the Highway 491 project re-scheduled for 2011 and the Highway 191 project to 2015.

The delay had been a major concern. After being told the roads would be rebuilt this year, the city completed a massive infrastructure project under the roads in 2008. Road problems this winter were triggered by trenches that were not properly compacted during the 2008 project.

Concrete will replace asphalt at the highway intersection and one block in each direction. City Manager Myron Lee said the city will work to minimize the impact on area businesses. Federal stimulus money helped UDOT fund the project.