Utah State Route 34 (St. George Boulevard) overlaps the east-west leg of Business Loop I-15 through the city of St. George. The state route measures 2.15 miles from SR 18 (Bluff Street) west of Downtown to River Road / Red Cliffs Drive just east of the diverging diamond interchange (Exit 8) with Interstate 15. The north-south leg of Business Loop I-15 overlaps with SR 18 for 1.985 miles between St. George Boulevard and Interstate 15 at Exit 6. Prior to 1974, U.S. 91 followed St. George Boulevard from Bluff Street to Red Cliffs Drive.
Both ends of Business Loop I-15 originally comprised trumpet interchanges. Each exchange was rebuilt as conventional diamond interchanges by 1993. Subsequent changes at the south end reconfigured the interchange into a narrower footprint with longer ramps. Work completed in April 2009 included building a new, wider span for Bluff Street over I-15.1
The north end was reconfigured into a diverging diamond interchange (DDI) during a $16 million design-build project. Work started on June 29, 2013.2 The new ramp configuration opened to motorists on November 19 and final construction wrapped up by December 19, 2013.3
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| Business Loop I-15 & SR 18 (Bluff Street) provide a direct route to Downtown St. George from I-15 north. The state route continues north to SR 8 (Sunset Boulevard) west for the adjacent city of Santa Clara. Photo taken 08/13/16. |
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| Black Ridge Drive winds north from Dixie Drive to meet Business Loop I-15 & SR 18 (Bluff Street) across from Main Street south. Photo taken 08/13/16. |
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| Continuing north from Main Street, motorists pass by the first shields for both Business Loop I-15 & SR 18 on Bluff Street. Photo taken 08/09/14. |
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| A traffic signal operates along Bluff Street at 900 South and the entrance to an east side shopping center. Photo taken 08/13/16. |
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| 700 South stems east from Business Loop I-15 & SR 18 (Bluff Street) to Dixie High School and the south side of Dixie State University. Photo taken 08/13/16. |
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| A shield assembly for Business Loop I-15 & SR 18 stands at the corner of Bluff Street and 300 South. Photo taken 08/13/16. |
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| Approaching the St. George business district on Business Loop I-15 & SR 18 (Bluff Street) north at 100 South east. Photo taken 08/13/16. |
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| Business Loop I-15 separates from SR 18 at forthcoming St. George Boulevard (SR 34). SR 18 continues north along Bluff Street toward Santa Clara and northern reaches of St. George. The state route ends in 39 miles at Enterprise. Photo taken 08/13/16. |
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| Business Loop I-15 combines with SR 34 along St. George Boulevard back to Interstate 15. Photo taken 08/13/16. |
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| Milepost zero for State Route 34 stands at the southeast corner of Bluff Street and St. George Boulevard Photo taken 08/25/14. |
 2 photos 2 photos | An array of retail lines St. George Boulevard east from SR 18 (Bluff Street). The first confirming marker for SR 34 precedes 400 West. Photo taken 08/13/16. Second photo taken 08/25/14. |
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| St. George constitutes a tree lined boulevard with a landscaped median. The former route of U.S. 91 intersects 300 West at the first of six traffic lights between Bluff Street (SR 18) and Interstate 15. Photo taken 08/25/14. |
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| The succeeding traffic signal along Business Loop I-15 north & SR 34 east is at Main Street. Photo taken 08/25/14. |
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| 200 East intersects St. George Boulevard five blocks north of the St. George Mormon Temple. Photo taken 08/25/14. |
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| Business Loop I-15 (St. George Boulevard) lowers to meet 400 East. Photo taken 08/25/14. |
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| Eastbound shield for SR 34 posted between 400 and 500 East. Photo taken 08/25/14. |
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| University Avenue / 700 East stems south from Business Loop I-15 (St. George Boulevard) to the campus and stadium for Dixie State University. Photo taken 08/25/14. |
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| Passing by a vintage sign for Larsen's Frostop between 800 and 900 East on St. George Boulevard eastbound. Photo taken 08/25/14. |
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| 1000 East runs along the east side of Dixie State University to 400 South. The three-lane boulevard north connects with Red Hills Parkway. Photo taken 08/25/14. |
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| Eastbound St. George Boulevard expands to three lanes as Business Loop I-15 & SR 34 reach the DDI with Interstate 15. Photo taken 08/25/14. |
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| A single lane ramp departs for Interstate 15 leading southwest through St. George to Virgin River Gorge in Arizona and Mesquite, Nevada. Photo taken 08/25/14. |
 2 photos 2 photos | Navigating through the DDI, traffic shifts to the left for the northbound I-15 ramp to Washington and Hurricane. Photos taken 08/25/14. |
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| Motorists shift back to the right as SR 34 extends another 0.15 miles along St. George Boulevard. Photo taken 08/25/14. |
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| Leaving the DDI with I-15, St. George Boulevard approaches Red Cliffs Drive north and River Road south, a commercial boulevard paralleling Interstate 15 north to Red Cliffs Mall and south to Dixie Regional Medical Center. Photo taken 08/25/14. |
 2 photos 2 photos | Middleton Black Ridge overlooks the retail strip at the eastern terminus of State Route 34. Photos taken 08/25/14. |
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| Red Cliffs Drive south at the commercialized east end of Utah 34 (St. George Boulevard). River Road extends the five lane boulevard southward. Photo taken 08/25/14. |
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| The first confirming marker for SR 34 stands just west of Red Cliffs Drive and River Road. Photo taken 08/25/14. |
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| St. Georges Boulevard enters the diverging diamond interchange (DDI) with Interstate 15. Photo taken 08/25/14. |
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| The westbound lanes shift to the left for a free flow on-ramp to Interstate 15 south to Mesquite and Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo taken 08/25/14. |
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| Business Loop I-15 begins and accompanies Utah 34 west toward Downtown St. George. Photo taken 08/25/14. |
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| 1000 East provides one of two links from St. George Boulevard to parallel Red Hills Parkway, an arterial belt route encircling central St. George west to SR 18 at Snow Canyon Parkway. Photo taken 08/25/14. |
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| SR 34 ends as Business Loop I-15 turns south along side SR 18 on Bluff Street. SR 18 joins St. George with Santa Clara via SR 8 (Sunset Boulevard) west and the far northern suburbs near Snow Canyon State Park.
Airport Road ties in from the former St. George Airport, which closed in 2011 and was redeveloped into a technology development complex Photo taken 08/25/14. |
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| Business Loop I-15 & SR 18 (Bluff Street) expand to five southbound lanes leading into the diamond interchange with Interstate 15. Photo taken 08/26/14. |
Sources:
- I-15 Bluff Street « Wadsworth Brothers.
- "Residents given preview of Exit 8 Interchange construction." St. George News (UT), June 28, 2013.
- "St. George Boulevard-I-15-Exit 8 diverging diamond interchange now open." St. George News (UT), November 19, 2013.
Photo Credits:08/09/14, 08/25/14, 08/26/14, 08/13/16 by AARoads
Connect with:
Interstate 15
State Route 18
Page Updated 06-29-2018.
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