Detours, construction and orange cones on WSU Ogden Campus

Marisa Nelson

June 7, 2021

The Bus Rapid Transit Line construction continues moving forward. The construction has made its way off the Weber State University Ogden Campus to Washington Boulevard and 26^th, 25^th and 24^th streets in downtown Ogden.

Construction has begun in front of the Shepherd Union as an update of the BRT. (Bella Torres / The Signpost)

According to email updates from Utah Transit Authority and the Ogden BRT team, work on the BRT station platform has begun. The reconstruction of Washington Boulevard to fit this station hub is underway both northbound and southbound.

Traffic may also be affected in the coming months as new waterlines, pedestrian crosswalks and other updates to traffic flow are implemented.

“To accommodate an Ogden City water line crossing at 26^th Street, Washington Boulevard will be reduced to one lane in each direction between 24^th and 26^th streets through June 6,” an email from May 28 said.

Sidewalk closures in front of the Browning Center as a result of the construction. (Bella Torres / The Signpost)

Construction on WSU’s Ogden campus continues around the Ada Lindquist Plaza and the Browning Center. Detours to avoid sidewalk closures are in effect on campus for the foreseeable future.

The Ada Lindquist Plaza is getting a reconstructed set of stairs and an additional sidewalk to improve the flow of the BRT.

According to a post on the project’s Facebook page, UTA has been working on this project for over 20 years. Some of the earlier models of the plan included a gondola and a streetcar. The post also says the BRT was identified as the most feasible and cost-effective solution during an environmental assessment.

Cones line a gate separating the construction from the paid lot. (Bella Torres / The Signpost)

The BRT will provide better connection from the FrontRunner station to downtown Ogden, WSU and McKay-Dee Hospital. It will also increase transportation options for residents and visitors without contributing to greenhouse gases and air pollution.

When construction began on the WSU Ogden campus, just below the Browning Center, a groundbreaking was held on campus to commemorate the event.

All sidewalks in front of the Shepherd Union are closed as a result of the new construction. (Bella Torres / The Signpost).

“Bringing a dedicated transit route to campus improves accessibility for students, provides an eco-friendly transportation alternative and minimizes the impact of commuters for our surrounding community,” WSU President Brad Mortensen said.

The BRT construction will continue into 2023, but the timeline and schedule can be subject to change depending on supplies, equipment and weather.