The need for a design change has been a topic of discussion since BYU acquired the former high school campus, according to Wayne Parker, Provo’s chief administrative officer.

“The large, sweeping ‘free right turn’ from northbound University to eastbound Canyon Road has been a hazard for pedestrians in the area,” Parker said. “As BYU will be using their new ‘West Campus’ area as a temporary home for arts classrooms and programming as the Harris Fine Arts Center is demolished and rebuilt, and as the West Campus parking lot has been made available for student and faculty parking, we have been seeing large numbers of pedestrians at peak hours crossing University Avenue.”

UDOT, which controls University Avenue, has been monitoring traffic there and is evaluating options for making the intersection safer and more functional for both vehicles and pedestrians. Public input is one of the most critical factors in making a decision as to what might be done to reduce accidents and create a safer environment for all those who use the intersection, Parker noted.

The goal is to have the project under construction in summer or fall of 2023.

Twenty-three participants attended the online meeting, and questions arose about cost, configuration, bike paths and safety.

According to Tyrel Edwards, project manager, the cost is estimated to be about $2.8 million, which is expected to be split into thirds between the three participating entities. The actual financial agreements are still being worked through.

The goals of the project are to improve safety and keep traffic moving, Edwards noted. There will also be a western leg to the intersection added, traffic signals, center medians, direct left turns and more.

There were several questions about safety during Tuesday’s meeting. In the past five years, there have been 55 incidents at the current intersection, including two critical incidents — one involving a pedestrian and the other a motorcycle.

“Once a decision has been made about what should change to achieve those objectives, the three parties expect to enter into an agreement for funding the final design and construction of a project that will best and most cost-effectively improve the function of the intersection,” Parker said.

BYU is very much a part of the change up equation as it affects not only the students but also entries into the south parking lot by Zion’s Bank.

“We are working closely with UDOT and Provo City to make adjustments to the intersection of Canyon Road and University Avenue with the goal to improve safety for everyone who passes through,” said Todd Hollingshead, BYU Media Relations manager. “We’re not only concerned about the safety of pedestrians — students, employees, the public and visitors — but also the safety of drivers.”

On a personal note, Hollingshead said, “I drive through that intersection on my way to work every morning and have witnessed multiple times when a northbound driver using the ‘free right’ lane did not see a pedestrian crossing southward and nearly caused an accident.”

New sidewalks will be installed across that area as well as along the south side of Canyon Road. In addition, UDOT is planning to install bike boxes and green paint on Canyon Road to increase awareness that bicyclists are using the intersection, according to Geoff Dupaix, senior communications manager.

“We plan to install raised medians for a short distance on University Avenue to provide more room for northbound drivers turning left at Cougar Boulevard and to help manage how southbound motorists turn left onto 1060 North,” Dupaix added.

Traffic lights will also be added for those exiting the BYU West Campus. In the future, this will become a future access road once the property is redeveloped.

In fact, much of this project is planning for the future and University Avenue continues to change in the area and northward to the University Parkway intersection, according to Edwards.

At least one resident is completely opposed to the realignment. Leo Lines, chairman for the Joaquin Neighborhood, said there were other areas that needed the attention for safety before University Avenue and Canyon Road.

“I’m opposed to this project right now. There are other places that need attention,” Lines said. He singled out 500 North, where he said he personally has witnessed two deaths, including a student who died beside him while he was on the scene.

“We have to get this done with hundreds of students crossing,” said Gordon Haight, Provo engineer.

UDOT is currently holding an open public comment period, which will end Jan. 6. The meeting will be posted to the project webpage at udotinput.utah.gov/CanyonandUniversity. Those interested can submit comments or email the project team at CanyonandUniversity@utah.gov or by call the hotline at 888-556-0232.