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The University Avenue bridge is pictured Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Provo.

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

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The University Avenue bridge is pictured Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Provo.

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

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The University Avenue bridge is pictured Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Provo.

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

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The Utah Department of Transportation's alternative routes during the University Avenue bridge construction are shown.

Courtesy UDOT

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A two-year construction project to replace the aging University Avenue bridge in Provo begins next month.

The bridge will be torn down and rebuilt in two parts, first on the west side and then the east side. Though one lane of traffic in each direction will remain open throughout the project, the Utah Department of Transportation is asking people to use alternative routes.

“We always want to try to maintain that traffic flow so people can get where they want to get to,” UDOT Region 3 spokesperson Wyatt Woolley said. “That being said, we do have alternative routes, and we do strongly recommend and suggest people use those alternative routes, because if you try to go over the bridge during construction, it’s going to be difficult at certain times of the day.”

The transportation agency held a meeting Tuesday at Provo City Hall where UDOT officials explained the project’s purpose and how residents should respond.

The viaduct serves as University Avenue between 920 S and 400 South, crossing 600 South and the railroad tracks. It is a vital transportation route between the University Avenue exit on Interstate 15 and downtown Provo and Brigham Young University.

Drivers entering Provo on I-15 from the south via the University Avenue exit are advised to turn onto Lakeview Parkway and go northbound on State Street or use the Center Street exit.

UDOT is asking truckers traveling between Heber Valley and southern Utah County to use the 800 North exit in Orem instead of the University Avenue exit in Provo.

“We do anticipate some bottlenecking, but if we don’t get too many people going through, it won’t be that bad,” Woolley said. “And we are aware of football games and everything else going on at BYU and all that other stuff in the city, and we also want to maintain people’s access to the businesses.”

UDOT said the bridge, built in 1966, has already been rehabilitated several times, including as recently as 2020, and is reaching the end of its 60-year lifespan.

The new bridge will be more structurally sound with a mechanically established earth wall on each side to enhance safety and enclose the viaduct and a 10-foot safety fence on the bridge over the railroad tracks.

It will also be more pedestrian-friendly with 8-foot-wide sidewalks and bike lanes in each direction, according to UDOT.

“It’s like a car,” said Andy Spencer, UDOT’s project manager for the Provo bridge project. “You can fix it and fix it. Then there’s a certain point where it’s maybe time to look at a new car. Very similar analogy, right? We’ve done all the repairs we can do, and now it’s time to renew it and start again for another 50 to 75 years.”

People are asked to monitor UDOT’s website and social media updates for further information.