Utah State Route 72

State Route 72
Route information
Defined by Utah Code §72-4-113
Maintained by UDOT
Length: 35.362 mi[1] (56.910 km)
Existed: 1933 – present
Major junctions
South end: SR-24 in Loa
  SR-76 near Ivie Creek Rest Area
North end: I-70 / US-50 / SR-10 at Fremont Junction
Highway system

State highways in Utah
Interstate • US • State (Parks) • Scenic

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

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.[2] 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.[3] Aside from the rest area, no permanent structures exist at this location.

History

State Route 121 was created in 1931, connecting SR-24 at Loa with Fremont.[4] Two years later, the route was renumbered 72 and extended to Fremont Junction on SR-10.[5] State Route 250 was created in 1953 as a connection from SR-24 between Loa and Lyman north to the 90° turn in SR-72,[6] but was given back to the county in 1969.[7]

With the completion of I-70 along SR-10's alignment, most of the old road was relinquished to Sevier County in 1976. Since there was no interchange at Fremont Junction, SR-72 was extended east about two miles (3 km) to the point where I-70 left the SR-10 alignment to cross the San Rafael Swell.[8] (A short piece of old SR-10 west of SR-72 was restored to the state highway system in 1978 as SR-76.[9])

Major intersections

County Location[2] 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

References

  1. ^ a b "Highway Reference Information - Route 0072" (PDF). Utah Department of Transportation. http://www.dot.utah.gov/main/uconowner.gf?n=6728313068238486. Retrieved 2008-02-02. 
  2. ^ a b Benchmark Maps (2002). Utah Road and Recreation Atlas (Map). 1:250000. p. 68. ISBN 0-929591-74-7. http://www.benchmark.com. 
  3. ^ See Utah Administrative Code linked in Information box
  4. ^ "Designation of State Roads", Chapter 55, Session Laws of Utah, 1931: "(121) From Loa northerly to Fremont."
  5. ^ "Designation of Primary State Roads", Chapter 29, Session Laws of Utah, 1933: "(72) From Loa via Fremont northeasterly to connect with road number 10 at Ivy Creek."
  6. ^ "Designation of State Roads", Chapter 45, Session Laws of Utah, 1953: "Route 250. From route 72 approximately one mile east of Loa south to route 24."
  7. ^ Utah Department of Transportation, State Route History, accessed July 2007
  8. ^ Utah Department of Transportation, Highway Resolutions: Route 72PDF (2.52 MB), updated November 2007, accessed May 2008
  9. ^ Utah Department of Transportation, Highway Resolutions: Route 76PDF (3.89 MB), updated November 2007, accessed May 2008