WASHINGTON CITY — Residents traveling on north Main Street in Washington City may have noticed temporary road closures, closed sidewalks and loud heavy machinery.
Washington Parkway has been closed intermittently while construction crews work on the Solente planned development in Washington City, Utah, Nov. 16, 2023 | Photo by Haven Scott, St. George News
Last month, Washington Parkway was closed for several days from the intersection at Main Street to the one at Interstate 15’s Exit 13. Since then, several more closures that lasted less than one workday have occurred — some lasting hours.
Washington City Councilman Kurt Ivie, who oversees the Washington City Public Safety Committee, told St. George News most of the construction has been due to workers adding infrastructure to a future project in the area.
As previously reported, the Solenté planned development will be a resort-style community with 2,200 units, shops, restaurants and upscale short-term rentals bordering the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve.
Washington City public affairs officer Jordan Hess said most of the major infrastructure for the Solenté development has been installed, but there is a lot of work to be done between now and completion.
“There may be some potential road closures in the future to cut open the road to tie into utilities that lie on the south side of Washington Parkway,” Hess said. “But any sidewalk or road closure would only last a couple of days.”
Infrastructure such as water, sewer and other underground utilities in the process of being installed at the intersection of Washington Parkway and Main Street in Washington City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2023 | Photo by Haven Scott, St. George News
As far as a timeline at Solenté for completion of water, sewer, power and utilities, the developers said they are working with city and state officials to make traffic flow as efficiently as possible.
“While the initial infrastructure is nearing completion, we will continue to have construction on the north side of Washington Parkway for years to come,” Ryan Coates, area manager for GWC Capital said. “This construction should not impact traffic patterns like the initial infrastructure construction did, but it will continue to progress over the life of the project.”
Coates noted the development is a collaboration between Washington City and Utah State Trust Lands that will “elevate” the existing Brio and Green Springs neighborhoods.
“In this plan, we have incorporated more permanent and substantial public trailheads for hikers, bikers and equestrian users to access the amazing local trails,” Coates said. “The new Main Street extension will run straight into Solenté and offer access for folks into the neighborhood, where there will be some light retail components for them to take advantage of.”
Workers install infrastructure at the intersection of Washington Parkway and Main Street in Washington City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2023 | Photo by Haven Scott, St. George News
Investment firm GWC Capital lists Solenté on the project’s website as an upscale community among the red rocks of Southern Utah.
“Solenté will include a variety of resort lifestyle amenities uniquely tailored for each segment of the community, which includes: community sports club, exclusive estate club, resort residential club, luxury resort hotel club,” according to the website. “Curated opportunities and concierge services await residents and guests in this exclusive high-desert setting.”
Coates said development managers will offer local residents an opportunity to participate in exclusive activities with “a limited number of public memberships offered to the club at Solenté.”
Just a few blocks away, at the intersection of Main Street and Buena Vista Boulevard, Utah Department of Transportation crews and contractors are working to complete the new I-15 interchange to be named Exit 11.
Work continues at the intersection of Main Street and Buena Vista Boulevard for a new Interstate 15 interchange to be named Exit 11 in Washington City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2023 | Photo by Haven Scott, St. George News
St. George News could not reach a state transportation spokesman before this article was published. UDOT Senior Communications Manager Kevin Kitchen told St. George News in a previous interview that the project is slated to be completed by the end of summer.
When asked about a timeline for the sidewalks on Buena Vista to be replaced, Washington City public works director Blake Fonnesbeck said the project may take longer.
“The project is expected to be completed around a year from now,” he said. “There will be a lot of construction in that area during that time and the sidewalk opening will most likely be towards the end of the project.”
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