ST. GEORGE — Traveling between the eastern and western portions of Washington County has become smoother with the completion of the interchange at Southern Parkway and George Washington Boulevard.

Jordan Hess, a spokesman for Washington City, told St. George News the project was years in the making. The interchange will make it easier to access the Washington Fields, Sand Hollow and Hurricane areas via the parkway, also known as state Route 7.

Hess said the project was initially estimated to cost about $8 million. However, with inflation and the COVID-19 pandemic, the price tag was closer to $13 million. So the city of Washington went to the Utah Legislature and asked for an appropriation, and lawmakers responded with $2.5 million to help cover the price increase.

“The city’s contribution was almost five times what it originally was going to be. So we looked under every couch cushion to find any change we could. But this is an important project because it will connect our county east to west,” Hess said. “Eventually, George Washington Boulevard will continue all the way through to Dixie Drive in St. George near the convention center. If you hop on the Southern Parkway here, you can get to Hurricane.”

Eventually, with the interchange complete, Hess said one could travel from Hurricane to Ivins.

“It’s all about moving traffic and keeping up with the growth that we’re experiencing and we’re really excited to have this project,” Hess said.

Washington City Mayor  Kress Staheli told St. George News that the interchange provides more convenient access to  St. George Regional Airport and Interstate 15 without traveling through town. He said the project provides quicker access for drivers.

“Whether you’re going to the east side of the county, out to Sand Hollow, out to Zion National Park, this will bypass a lot of that traffic,”  Staheli said. “So it’ll ease a lot of the traffic up onto Telegraph Street and I-15 where you can bypass Washington. And conversely, those on the east side of the county coming down into the Washington Fields, into this valley, they’ll be able to drop right into Washington City and head west right past the Red Cliffs Temple and into the St. George area.”

The project was a collaboration between the county, Washington City, the state legislature, the Five County Association of Governments and the Dixie Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Staheli added that the interchange is near the anticipated “wheels-themed park.” Additional residential and commercial development is also planned for the area.

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