Utah State Route 201

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State Route 201

Defined by Utah Code §72-4-126, maintained by UDOT

Length:

16.699 mi^[1] (26.874 km)

Formed:

1939^[2]

West end:

I-80 near Magna

Major
junctions:

I-215 in West Valley City

I-15/I-80 in Salt Lake City

East end:

US-89 in Salt Lake City

State Routes in Utah
< SR-200		SR-202 >

State Route 201, known locally as the 21st South Freeway (alluding to the placement of most of the freeway) or simply the 201, is a freeway/expressway located in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It provides an alternative to Interstate 80 when needed and also is very important for the residents of the westside and Tooele County that work in Salt Lake City. The highway is an old routing of U.S. Route 50 and is signed as the routes of the Lincoln Highway, Pony Express and the California Trail.^[3]

1 Route description
2 History
3 Major intersections
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Route description

SR-201 westbound nearing the I-215 interchange

SR-201 forks from Interstate 80 where the freeway passes between the Oquirrh Mountains and the Great Salt Lake near the county line with Tooele County. The freeway passes by the Kennecott Smokestack, the tallest structure in Utah. SR-201 is routed at approximately 2100 south in Salt Lake County's grid system giving the freeway its nickname the "21st South Freeway". The highway is an expressway until 5600 West Street where the freeway portion begins. The route is not continuous driving east. The freeway portion ends at an intersection sometimes called the spaghetti bowl, where SR-201, Interstate 15 and Interstate 80 meet. The freeway portion formerly connected with 2100 South Street (21st South) in Salt Lake where SR-201 continues. However the interchange with I-15 was re-designed, in the late 90's. The re-design broke the eastbound connection between the freeway and street portions. To connect between these portions requires a detour on 900 west. The route is continuous driving west, however to connect the street portion with the freeway portion involves a left turn at the freeway on-ramp. The highway currently ends at State Street, which is also US-89. As the Route connects to I-80 twice, it can be used to bypass I-80 and is actually shorter than continuing on I-80.

[edit] History

State Route 201 is one of the original highways west out of Salt Lake. It was used and is still signed as the routes of the Pony Express, California Trail and Lincoln Highway. This is also believed to be the route used by the Donner Party through the area.

The highway was first numbered U.S. Route 50 and later numbered U.S. Route 40 Alternate, with what is now State Route 186 serving as the main route. Prior to the construction of Interstate 80 the highway was used to detour trucks around downtown Salt Lake City. Formerly, the route continued east along 21st south street and Parley's Way to connect with Interstate 80 (and U.S. Route 40) at the mouth of Parley's Canyon.^[3]

[edit] Major intersections

The entire route is in Salt Lake County.

Location	Mile^[4]	#	Road(s)	Notes
	0.000		I-80 west
	3.250		SR-202 to I-80 east – Great Salt Lake State Park
	7.179		SR-111 (8400 West) – Magna, Bingham Canyon Mine
Salt Lake City	West end of freeway
	10.805	11	5600 West (SR-172)
	12.821	13	SR-154 (Bangerter Highway)
	13.760	14	3200 West
	14.677	15	I-215	Signed as exits 15A (south) and 15B (north)
	15.287	15C	SR-68 (Redwood Road)
			I-15 / I-80 – Salt Lake City, Reno, Las Vegas, Cheyenne
	East end of freeway
	16.414		900 West	Interchange; SR-201 east exits the freeway via exit 17
			I-15 / I-80 west – Las Vegas	Interchange
			US-89 (State Street)