Salt Lake City, UT – Summer construction is in full swing at the University of Utah, with a series of major redevelopment projects now underway that are significantly affecting traffic flow and access throughout the upper campus — especially around the University of Utah Hospital.

Among the most disruptive is the overhaul of 100 South, a key arterial road managed by Salt Lake City. The stretch between University Street and North Campus Drive — near the Kennecott Engineering Building — is undergoing repaving and redevelopment, a much-needed update for a corridor long plagued by potholes and surface damage.

“For those who remain on campus during those months, they’ll be contending with some major commuting challenges as road construction gets underway,” the university noted in an official post about the project.

Construction crews began work in early May, with the goal of completing the project before fall semester classes resume on August 17. Although the timing is aimed to coincide with reduced summer activity, hospital staff, patients and visitors are facing ongoing delays and detours.

Currently, two uphill lanes to the hospital remain operational — prioritizing emergency access — but westbound or downhill traffic is closed. Drivers leaving the hospital must use alternate routes, including Mario Capecchi Drive or Wasatch Drive. Utah Transit Authority bus services and university shuttles have also adjusted routes to accommodate the changes.

All side streets north of the 100 South project have also been closed, prompting the university to advise campus visitors to avoid the affected area whenever possible.

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall acknowledged the temporary inconvenience but stressed the long-term benefits: “It’s important that we ensure safe, reliable access to our world-class medical institutions on the University of Utah campus — University Hospital, Primary Children’s Hospital and Huntsman Cancer Institute.”

The road update will include wider sidewalks and the removal of all street parking once construction is completed, further modernizing the busy corridor.

Elsewhere on campus, construction activity is just as intense. A portion of Lot 66 — located above the hospital and near the Fort Douglas area — is being repaved through August, which will impact parking availability and access for research staff and university employees. “Workers should expect longer wait times to access the area and find parking,” the university said in a release.

The U. is also moving forward with the demolition of its old School of Medicine building, replacing it with the new Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine — a $185 million facility now slated for full completion by June 2026, slightly behind its original 2025 target. A University of Utah Health spokesperson confirmed the demolition is not currently affecting traffic but acknowledged it adds to the overall construction footprint.

To the west of the hospital, near the Moran Eye Center, the university is also building the Sorenson Center for Medical Innovation, which is expected to open in 2026. University spokesperson Kylene Metzger said the ongoing upgrades represent a major leap forward for the institution’s role in health care and research.

“We’re encouraged to see steady progress on these transformative construction projects at the University of Utah,” Metzger said. “These projects are more than just new structures. As we look to the future, they will redefine how we deliver health care, train the next generation of medical professionals and innovate health care solutions through cutting-edge research and discovery.”

In addition, the Utah Transit Authority is reconstructing the "Red Line" TRAX route through campus — near Rice-Eccles Stadium on 500 South — through the end of July. Other smaller improvements, including seismic upgrades, roof repairs, new student housing, and the construction of a new engineering building, are also underway.

With so many concurrent projects, the university is asking for patience and planning.

“With these projects taking place at the same time, you can expect heavier traffic and longer delays this summer,” the U. warned in a video briefing for students, faculty, and staff.

Originally reported by Courtney Tanner in The Salt Lake Tribune.