Provo River Trail enters final phase of construction, expanding for safety and accessibility

PROVO — Pedestrians and cyclists in Provo will soon have a wider, safer pathway with the completion of a trail project that has been years in the making.

Since 2018, Provo city officials have been working on trail improvements. This past week, crews began construction on the final segment: a 0.8-mile stretch between Columbia Lane and University Parkway that will widen the trail from 6 feet to 14 feet.

"The Provo River Trail was conceptualized in the late '70s with joint efforts between Provo City and Utah County," said John Bunderson, parks planning and project manager. "Much of what was usable, including this segment, was built in the early '80s and was only 6 feet wide of a trail surface."

Bunderson said the project aims to improve sightlines, head clearance and grades while eliminating sharp turns to maximize safety and meet Americans with Disabilities Act compliance regulations. Crews will also install a new pedestrian bridge east of State Street and north of the Macey's parking lot.

The $5 million project is funded primarily through a $4.6 million active transportation grant from the Mountainland Association of Governments, alongside $400,000 from the city. Bunderson said a small portion of those funds went toward purchasing land from several local business owners.

"The public input that I've received is that it's the keystone part of the project that everybody's looking forward to having completed," Bunderson said. "Many are excited to be able to have that very good active transportation and recreational trail right along the Provo River all the way from Utah Lake up into the canyon."

Longtime Utah County resident Mary Ann Nielsen said her son was previously involved in an accident along the trail, adding that she is particularly glad for the safety features a wider path will provide.

"I use it several times a week for my kids' running club, and there have been several sections that have been quite unsafe for children due to sharp, blind turns and overly steep underpasses and narrow sections," Nielsen said. "My child was hit by an electric scooter on the section that's going to be redone, and I think that the situation would have been largely avoidable if the trail had been wide enough for the scooter to pass a couple feet farther from our group."

Nielsen, who is an avid runner, said she looks forward to a smoother experience for all trail users.

"Being able to exercise without the interference of traffic lights, the danger and exhaust of cars, and also being surrounded by the beauty of nature makes a surreal experience," she said.

Local youth running coach John Hedengren spoke to the positive experiences runners have had on the sections of the trail that have already been upgraded, thanking local officials for prioritizing the project.

"Utah County recently repaved the section of trail we use for the Provo River Delta Gateway parkrun, a free 5K every Saturday," Hedengren said. "We are grateful for the county, state, and city's work to expand and maintain trails that bring people together outdoors.

"Last week, the sunrise over Y Mountain, scenic Utah Lake, and snow-capped Wasatch Mountains nearly took my breath away," he added. "We're thankful for the trail expansion and maintenance that makes moments like these possible."

The trail expansion will occur in tandem with water and sewer line improvements, a coordination Bunderson said was planned to minimize extended road closures.

"I want to emphasize that Provo is trying to be very cognizant of impacts to our community — especially these other businesses in the area," he said. "We still want to encourage the community to find these businesses.

"We're very glad to be able to make these important regional trail improvements because it's not just our great residents in Provo that use the trail," he added. "The Provo River Trail is considered a regional trail."

Construction is scheduled to continue through the summer of 2027, with Columbia Lane closures projected to go through May and Provo River Trail closures continuing through July. Residents and visitors are encouraged to check the city's website for ongoing traffic and closure updates.