Deadly Tooele County intersection receives a traffic signal

ERDA, Tooele County — A Tooele County intersection with a history of serious crashes is getting a major safety upgrade, according to the Utah Department of Transportation.

UDOT said crews are installing a new traffic signal at the intersection of Parachute Park Lane and Midvalley Highway in Erda after years of crashes, including a fatal collision last month that killed two Tooele County men.

The intersection opened in 2021, but problems surfaced almost immediately.

"This was an intersection that we opened back in 2021, and unfortunately, there were a couple of crashes that happened within the first week or two of the opening," John Gleason, UDOT director of public relations, said.

Since then, UDOT said it has made multiple changes to improve safety, including adding flashing LED stop signs, changing striping and installing more warning signs. Despite those efforts, crashes continued.

Officials said a March 25 crash highlighted the need for more immediate action. According to the Utah Department of Public Safety, two men were killed when a Corvette turning left from Parachute Park Lane was struck by a semitruck.

"If there are those crashes, we have to respond," Gleason said.

Now, UDOT is responding with a $400,000 traffic signal project designed to make the intersection safer and easier for drivers to navigate.

"Within the next month or so, we're going to have that new traffic signal out there fully functional," Gleason said.

Crews have already started building the bases for the signal arms, and drivers may see temporary lane impacts while construction continues.

"It'll take that guesswork out and just make it fully dependent on the traffic signal," Gleason said.

UDOT said growth in the area helped the intersection qualify for a stoplight under engineering standards. Officials hope once the signal is active, crashes at the intersection will decrease.

The agency said this is one of several safety upgrades planned across Tooele County as traffic volumes continue to rise.

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