Utah State Route 8
Encyclopedia
State Route 8 is a state highway in the southwestern portion of the U.S. state
of Utah
, running entirely within Washington County
, in St. George. The route connects SR-18 to Dixie Downs Road via Sunset Boulevard in a span of 1.3 miles (2.09 km). Prior to 1999, SR-8 extended north to Snow Canyon State Park
. However, the route was truncated to its current point that year.
and heads west-southwest through a residential portion of the city on Sunset Boulevard as a four-lane undivided highway. Past Westridge Drive, the road straightens out to the west and soon terminates at Dixie Downs Road.
State Route 300 was designated in 1972 to serve Snow Canyon State Park
, running from SR-18 south to the southern boundary of the park. In 1991, the Utah Transportation Commission passed a resolution to create a new State Route 8, pending roadway improvements, which would absorb the entire length of SR-300, and continue south through Ivins on Center Street and 200 East and southeast on Santa Clara Drive and Sunset Boulevard (old US-91) back to SR-18. Sunset Boulevard between SR-18 and Dixie Downs Road was so improved and added to the state highway system in 1996, and at that time SR-300 was renumbered as a second piece of SR-8. As requested by the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation so they could carry out their resource management plan, the latter portion was removed from the state highway system in 1999, leaving only the present extent of SR-8.
, Washington County
.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, running entirely within Washington County
Washington County, Utah
As of the census of 2000, there were 90,354 people, 29,939 households, and 23,442 families residing in the county. The population density was 37 people per square mile . There were 36,478 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
, in St. George. The route connects SR-18 to Dixie Downs Road via Sunset Boulevard in a span of 1.3 miles (2.09 km). Prior to 1999, SR-8 extended north to Snow Canyon State Park
Snow Canyon State Park
Snow Canyon State Park is a state park of Utah, USA, featuring a canyon carved from the red and white Navajo sandstone in the Red Mountains. The park is located near Ivins, Utah in Washington County...
. However, the route was truncated to its current point that year.
Route description
SR-8 begins at SR-18 on the northwestern side of St. GeorgeSt. George, Utah
St. George is a city located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Utah, and the county seat of Washington County, Utah. It is the principal city of and is included in the St. George, Utah, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is 119 miles northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, and 303 miles ...
and heads west-southwest through a residential portion of the city on Sunset Boulevard as a four-lane undivided highway. Past Westridge Drive, the road straightens out to the west and soon terminates at Dixie Downs Road.
History
SR-8 was added to the state highway system in 1910, and in the 1920s it became part of US-91. After the new alignment of I-15 was built south from St. George, old US-91 southwest of SR-18, including present SR-8, was removed from the state highway system in 1974.State Route 300 was designated in 1972 to serve Snow Canyon State Park
Snow Canyon State Park
Snow Canyon State Park is a state park of Utah, USA, featuring a canyon carved from the red and white Navajo sandstone in the Red Mountains. The park is located near Ivins, Utah in Washington County...
, running from SR-18 south to the southern boundary of the park. In 1991, the Utah Transportation Commission passed a resolution to create a new State Route 8, pending roadway improvements, which would absorb the entire length of SR-300, and continue south through Ivins on Center Street and 200 East and southeast on Santa Clara Drive and Sunset Boulevard (old US-91) back to SR-18. Sunset Boulevard between SR-18 and Dixie Downs Road was so improved and added to the state highway system in 1996, and at that time SR-300 was renumbered as a second piece of SR-8. As requested by the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation so they could carry out their resource management plan, the latter portion was removed from the state highway system in 1999, leaving only the present extent of SR-8.
Major intersections
The entire route is in St. GeorgeSt. George, Utah
St. George is a city located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Utah, and the county seat of Washington County, Utah. It is the principal city of and is included in the St. George, Utah, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is 119 miles northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, and 303 miles ...
, Washington County
Washington County, Utah
As of the census of 2000, there were 90,354 people, 29,939 households, and 23,442 families residing in the county. The population density was 37 people per square mile . There were 36,478 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
.
| Mile | Destination | notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.000 | Dixie Downs Road | Western terminus |
| 1.303 | Eastern terminus |