If you’ve driven North Medical Drive recently, you’ve seen some construction prep work and staging taking shape. This work is to get ready for the North Medical Drive project that will significantly improve the commute to University Hospital and Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI).
Beginning around the week of September 14, 2020, commuters can expect to see lane closures and possible traffic delays from the Mario Capecchi Drive intersection up to HCI. The goal is to keep two lanes open heading east and one lane open heading west at all times. Still, it would be wise for North Medical Drive commuters to insert a few extra minutes into their travel plans.
The North Medical Drive project will create a number of improvements to the roads and nearby parking options.
• At the Mario Capecchi intersection, additional turning lanes will be added to ease congestion.
• A new parking garage will be built adjacent to the already-under-construction Kathryn F. Kirk Center for Comprehensive Cancer Care and Women’s Cancers. This new garage will offer over 1,000 new parking stalls. The garage will feature a lowered roadway entrance, as well as a pedestrian connector to University Hospital so people on foot can avoid the traffic on North Medical Drive.
• Traffic circles will be added at the entrance to University Hospital and the entrance to the new parking garage.
• The existing North Medical Parking Garage located next to University Hospital, otherwise known as Lot 50, is also part of this project. Work on the garage will begin with the relocation of the garage entrances off of North Medical Drive.
The aim of the North Medical Drive project will be to improve travel and parking to University Hospital for both patients and employees. That said, the construction will represent a temporary disruption while the work is being done. It is anticipated that the work will be fully completed by fall 2022.
Stay tuned to Pulse and ct.utah.edu for more updates on the North Medical Drive project.