Business Owners Challenged 4th South Viaduct Trail
Local business owners have petitioned to remove the new bike lane, citing reduced store traffic.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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A Salt Lake City business owner has launched a petition to remove the 4th South Viaduct Trail following a reported decline in storefront traffic. The city and state transportation officials are currently reviewing potential project modifications for the area.
Why it matters
The conflict highlights the operational tension between municipal alternative transportation goals and business access. Owners must now weigh the impact of street-level infrastructure changes on customer visibility and accessibility.
A business owner reports store traffic declined by over 20% since the path opened. Officials report no safety incidents have occurred on the trail since its May 27 opening.
The players
Salt Lake City
The municipal government overseeing urban planning and local transportation infrastructure.
Utah Department of Transportation
The state agency responsible for managing highway and transit infrastructure and providing regulatory oversight.
The details
The 4th South Viaduct Trail was designed to improve connections across the city, leading to changes in street configurations that affect business access. In response to concerns, crews have already modified driveways and fencing to improve visibility for local businesses. Future mitigations under review include traffic signal retiming, updated signage, and broader curb management strategies.
Timeline
May 27, 2026: The 4th South Viaduct Trail opened.
January 1, 2027: Deadline for a required transportation agreement between the city and UDOT.
Market Landscape
The project operates under the oversight requirements mandated by SB242. This law requires Salt Lake City and the state to finalize a comprehensive transportation agreement by 2027.
Operators in areas undergoing transit infrastructure changes should document traffic trends early to support mitigation requests. Managers should coordinate with city planners on curb management and signal timing to ensure customer access remains viable.
The takeaway
Infrastructure projects that alter street layouts require proactive engagement between business owners and city planners to manage access issues. Monitor the upcoming city and state transportation agreement for new rules on traffic-calming and curb management that may impact your facility.
Further reading
Find more updates on commercial accessibility in the Salt Lake City Openings & Closings section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KSL.
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Should city planners prioritize protecting local business access over installing new bike lane infrastructure?
