Utah State Route 72

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State Route 72
Defined by Utah Code §72-4-113
Length: 35.362 mi[1] (57 km)
Formed: 1931[2]
South end: SR-24 in Loa
Major
junctions:		 SR-76 near Ivie Creek Rest Area
North end: I-70 / SR-10 at Fremont Junction
Counties: Wayne, Sevier
Major cities: Loa
State Routes in Utah
< SR-71 SR-73 >

State Route 72 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Utah. The current alignment is an extension of State Route 10. The highway provides access to Loa from I-70.

Contents

[edit] Route description

The highway begins in Loa and proceeds north towards Fremont and across Fishlake National Forest. The portion across Fishlake National Forest is frequently closed during winter weather. While in the national forest the highway passes by landmarks such as Foy Bench and The Frying Pan.[3] The highway ends where SR-10 begins. This is near the Ivie Creek Rest Area along I-70. This junction is called Fremont Junction by most maps and the Utah legislature.[4] Aside from the rest area, no permanent structures exist at this location.

[edit] History

The highway was first incorporated in the state highway network in 1931 from Loa to Fremont. The highway was extended to the modern junction of SR-76 in 1933.[2] At that time the east west road at this junction was SR-10, which extended to Salina. This arrangement existed until 1962. In 1962, road planners decided to route I-70 through this area. They decided to use the path of route 10 across the Wasatch Plateau for the new freeway. On paper SR-72 was to connect with I-70.[2] In 1977, I-70 was reasonably in tact and the state planners returned much of what was left of route 10 across the plateau to Sevier county. With this change route 72 was extended up the old route 10 to connect to I-70. A small remaining stub where a Rest Area had been constructed for I-70 was transferred to a newly created SR-76.[5] This rest area for I-70 is called the Ivie Creek Rest Area.

[edit] Major intersections

County Location[3] Mile[1] Junction Notes
Wayne Loa 0.000 SR-24 – Richfield, Torrey
Fishlake National Forest 9.629 Fish Lake
Sevier 17.400 View area – Hogan's Pass / Willow Basin
18.153 View Area - Hogan's Pass Trailhead
33.541 SR-76 east – Salina
35.362 I-70 / SR-10 north – Green River, Castle Dale, Price

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Highway Reference Information - Route 0072 (pdf). Utah Department of Transportation. Retrieved on 2008-02-02.
  2. ^ a b c Highway Resolutions - Route 72 (pdf). Utah Department of Transportation. Retrieved on 2008-02-02.
  3. ^ a b Benchmark Maps. Utah Road and Recreation Atlas [map], 1:250000. (2002) ISBN 0-929591-74-7. Page 68.
  4. ^ See Utah Administrative Code linked in Information box
  5. ^ Highway Resolution SR-76. Utah Department of Transportation. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.