New 300 North pedestrian bridge opens, connecting Salt Lake City’s east and west sides

Carlton Christensen had two options when he was running late for school at West High: take the 600 North overpass, which added five minutes to his route, or gamble crossing the railroad tracks at 300 North — where he had about a 50-50 chance of being stopped by a train.

Years later, Christensen now serves as board chair of the Utah Transit Authority, and on Wednesday, he unveiled a new option for commuting students and city residents alike: a pedestrian bridge at 300 North.

The bridge is located just two blocks west of West High School and crosses over two UTA rail tracks and three Union Pacific Railroad tracks, according to a UTA news release.

The area has long been a top priority, because the crossing at 300 North is considered one of Union Pacific’s most dangerous, according to UTA. Construction began in 2021 as a part of UTA’s first/last mile program, which aims to enhance transit infrastructure near UTA bus stops or TRAX stations, so transit is more easily accessible.

The $6.6 million project was partially funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s “Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery” program, or TIGER — but the majority of the money came from Salt Lake City, the Wasatch Front Regional Council, the Utah Department of Transportation and Union Pacific.

During the bridge-planning process, officials saw videos of students crawling underneath stalled trains or cutting between stationary railcars on the active railway to get to and from school, Wasatch Front Regional Council executive director Andrew Gruber said.

“When we saw that, it made us sad. But more importantly, it made us angry,” Gruber said. “And it made us committed to doing something to fix this problem.”

The new pedestrian bridge is safer, and improves access, Region 8 Federal Transit Administrator Cindy Terwilliger said. “And improving access means creating opportunity for people to get to work, students to get to school, and for everyone to connect all over to connect to all Salt Lake City has to offer without having to step in their cars,” she said.

West High School principal Jared Wright attended the school in the mid-’90s, and recalled that the crossing at 300 North was a concern for decades. He said about 60% of West High students live west of the campus, so the bridge will go a long way for students’ safety while on the way to and from class.

The bridge will also create a crucial connection for the city itself, District 3 city councilmember Chris Wharton said.

“This literally bridges the city’s long-endured east-side/west-side divide, encouraging more people to walk, bike and promoting healthy and sustainable transportation options,” Wharton said. “It’s not just about getting from point A to point B, it’s about fostering a culture of health and wellbeing within our community.”