UTAH STATE ROUTE 201

U-201, known locally as the "21st South Freeway" or simply "201", provides an alternative to I-80 when needed and also is very important for the residents of the westside and Tooele County that work in Salt Lake City. This highway and Utah State Route 186 are the original highways to connect Salt Lake with points west and have a longer history than other highways that now exist in the area. The highway is the auto tour route for historic trails including the Lincoln Highway, Pony Express and the California Trail.

Contents

Route Description

Route History

Major intersections

Legal definition

References

External link

Route Description

'State Route 201' is a freeway/expressway located in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It forks from Interstate 80 where the freeway passes between the Oquirrh Mountains and the Great Salt Lake near the county line with Tooele County. The freeway passes by the Kennecott Smokestack, the tallest structure in Utah. UT-201 is routed at approximately 2100 south in Salt Lake County's grid system giving the freeway its nickname the "21st South Freeway". The highway is an expressway until 5600 West Street where the freeway portion begins. The route is not continuous driving east. The freeway portion ends at an intersection sometimes called the 'spaghetti bowl' where UT-201, Interstate 15 and Interstate 80 meet. The freeway portion formerly connected with 2100 South Street (21st South) in Salt Lake where UT-201 continues. However when the interchange with I-15 was re-designed, in the late 90's, the eastbound connection between the freeway and street portions of UT-201 was broken. To connect between the 2 portions one must detour on 900 west. The route is continuous driving west, however to connect the street portion with the freeway portion involves a left turn to the freeway on-ramp. The highway currently ends at State Street, which is also U.S. Route 89
As the Route connects to I-80 twice, it can be used to bypass I-80 and is actually shorter than continuing on I-80. Current plans call for UT-201 to be upgraded to a freeway from end to end.

Route History

State Route 201 is one of the original highways west out of Salt Lake. It was used and is still signed as the routes of the Pony Express, California Trail and Lincoln Highway. This is also believed to be the route used by the Donner Party through the area.
The highway was first numbered U.S. Route 50 and later numbered U.S. Route 40 Alternate. Prior to the construction of Interstate 80 the highway was used to detour trucks around downtown Salt Lake City. Formerly, the route continued east along 21st south street and Parley's Way to connect with Interstate 80 (and U.S. Route 40) at the mouth of Parley's Canyon.^[1]

Major intersections

The entire route is in Salt Lake County.

Location	MileUtah Department of Transportation, Highway Reference Information, accessed July 2007	#	Road(s)	Notes
	0.000
	3.250		to I-80 east
	7.179
Salt Lake City	10.805	11	5600 West (SR-172)
	12.821	13	Bangerter Highway/4000 West (SR-154) - Salt Lake International Airport
	13.760-13.824	14	3200 West
	14.657-14.677	15		Signed as exits 15A (south) and 15B (north)
	15.287-15.336	16
	16.414-16.476	17	900 West
			, Reno, NV, Las Vegas, NV, Cheyenne, WY	Eastbound exit and westbound entrance

Legal definition

References

1. http://members.aol.com/utahhwys/rte201.htm Utah Highways by Dan Stober (personal web site last checked 7-14-07)

External link

★ Utah Highways Pages -- Route 201