The widening of US-189 along Deer Creek Reservoir, the main road between Utah Valley and Heber Valley, will take longer than planned. UDOT told the Daily Herald this week that the project, which began in October 2025 with a fall 2027 target, is now expected to finish in 2028. For anyone who drives Provo Canyon to Heber, Midway or Park City, here is what is being built, why it slipped, and what the drive is like in the meantime.
The short version
| Where | US-189 along the east shore of Deer Creek, Wallsburg to Charleston |
| What | Two lanes each way, with the directions separated on the hillside |
| Started | October 2025 |
| Original finish | Fall 2027 |
| New finish | 2028 |
| Why | Large boulders slowed the anchor drilling that stabilizes the hillside |
| Traffic now | One lane each way stays open; short stops for blasting, usually around 10 a.m. |
Why it slipped
To build the new lanes, crews are cutting into the eastern hillside above the reservoir and pinning it in place with drilled anchors so rock does not fall onto the road. They hit large boulders that were hard to excavate, and that slowed the work. UDOT Region 3 spokesman Wyatt Woolley said the project now runs into 2028.
What's done
- A new northbound lane opened in early October 2026, and traffic shifted onto it.
- 12.2 miles of drilled anchors are in place to prevent rockfall.
- About 1 million cubic yards of earth have been moved.
What's being built
The road along Deer Creek has been one lane each way with no median and little shoulder. When it's done:
- Two lanes in each direction, with the northbound lanes cut into the hillside above the old road, a split design like sections lower in Provo Canyon. Woolley described "some large physical separation" between the directions.
- A traffic signal at US-189 and SR-113 near Charleston.
- A wildlife undercrossing and new wildlife fencing in the Island Beach area.
- Better access and parking at Island Beach, with longer turn lanes and a new lot.
- Better sight lines through the curves.
Driving it now
UDOT has kept one lane open in each direction for the whole project. "We've never stopped 189 except for when we actually do blast," Woolley said. Blasting usually happens around 10 a.m. and stops traffic for 15 to 20 minutes. Crashes cause the other delays, and big events in Heber Valley, like Swiss Days in Midway, bring traffic UDOT cannot control.
Practical tips for the drive from Provo:
- Avoid the mid-morning window if you are on a schedule, since that is when blasting stops are most likely.
- Plan for slower curves near the reservoir, where the lanes have shifted.
- Check conditions before you go. Our canyon conditions guide covers where to look before driving Provo Canyon.
What's next
Crews will stabilize the steep slope between the new northbound lane and the existing southbound lane, then move to the southbound side and the US-189 and SR-113 intersection. UDOT expects the Charleston traffic light to go in during 2027.
Getting updates
UDOT takes sign-ups for project updates on the US-189 public input page and by email at HeberValleyProjects@utah.gov with "Updates" in the subject line. The project phone line is 385-203-9566.
Related
For what's on the other end of the drive, see our guides to Heber Valley and Midway from Provo, Deer Creek and Jordanelle and Provo Canyon.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the US-189 Deer Creek construction be finished?
Why is the US-189 project delayed?
Where is the US-189 construction?
Is US-189 closed for construction?
What is being built on US-189 at Deer Creek?
What has been finished so far?
What comes next?
How do I get US-189 construction updates?
Sources
The facts in this guide were checked against these sources. Hours, fees and rules change, so confirm anything time-sensitive with the source before you go. How we make Provo.com.
- US-189 Improved: Project Overview, Utah Department of Transportation. Checked October 13, 2026.
- Improving the highway: U.S. 189 construction sees progress despite extended timeline, Daily Herald. Checked October 13, 2026.
- UDOT begins construction to add lanes on US 189 by Deer Creek Reservoir, Daily Herald. Checked October 13, 2026.