Wardleigh Road detour scheduled as part of new 1800 N. Gate construction

  • Published
  • By Richard Essary
  • 75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  Motorists using Wardleigh Road on the northwest side of the installation will experience a temporary detour beginning mid-August to accommodate construction of the new 1800 N. Gate and its connecting roundabout.

Base officials emphasize the existing North Gate will remain fully open. The 1800 N. Gate is a separate, future base access point designed to alleviate traffic congestion. However, safely connecting this new gate to the base’s existing road network requires a temporary disruption to the Wardleigh corridor.

“We are entering a highly visible phase of this project and want to ensure everyone is prepared,” said Brett Christensen, 75th Air Base Wing Enhanced Use Lease chief. “Our goal is to keep traffic moving safely, and we recommend drivers consider adjusting commute times.”

In preparation for the shift, contractors will begin constructing the temporary bypass roadway this month. During the construction period, southbound Wardleigh traffic will divert east onto Browning Street, south onto Hickory Avenue, and use the temporary bypass road near Maine Street to reconnect with Wardleigh. Northbound traffic will follow the reverse route.

To safely accommodate the detour, right-of-way rules will be modified at the Hickory and Browning intersection. Drivers should expect new stop or yield signs and reduced speed limits through the detour zone.

Because this corridor serves as a main artery for several key base facilities, units, and offices, motorists traveling across the northwest side of the base should plan for slightly longer transit times.

While overall construction on the new gate complex is in its early stages, crews expect the Wardleigh Road realignment to be finished by the end of the year, at which point normal traffic patterns will resume on the roadway. The entire 1800 N. Gate project is slated to officially open in late 2027.