Provo residents will soon enjoy a wider, safer route along the Provo River Trail as crews begin work on the project’s final segment, a 0.8‑mile stretch between Columbia Lane and University Parkway. The expansion, which widens the path from six to fourteen feet, is intended to improve sightlines, head clearance, grades and eliminate sharp turns, bringing the trail into full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
According to KSL, the $5 million effort is funded primarily by a $4.6 million active‑transportation grant from the Mountainland Association of Governments, with the city contributing $400,000. A portion of the grant was used to purchase land from several local business owners to accommodate the broader corridor.
John Bunderson, parks planning and project manager, said the trail was originally conceptualized in the late ’70s and much of the existing segment was built in the early ’80s. “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 told KSL.
Local users expressed strong support for the upgrades. Mary Ann Nielsen, a longtime Utah County resident, recalled her son’s accident on the narrow section and welcomed the added safety. “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,” she said. Youth running coach John Hedengren praised recent improvements, noting that Utah County recently repaved the portion used for the free Saturday 5K parkrun.
The project also includes a new pedestrian bridge east of State Street, north of the Macey’s parking lot, and will be coordinated with water and sewer line upgrades to limit road closures. Columbia Lane is expected to remain closed through May, and trail closures will continue through July, with construction scheduled to run through the summer of 2027.
What’s next: Residents should monitor the city’s website for updates on traffic and trail closures. The widened trail is slated for completion by 2027, providing a safer, more accessible route for pedestrians and cyclists throughout Provo.
Sources: ksl.com
