Overview
- Federal officials issued a new decision approving a four-lane route across the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, reversing a 2024 rejection.
- BLM terminated the Red Hills Parkway expressway alternative after Utah provided evidence it was not technically or economically feasible.
- The approval pairs the corridor with adding roughly 6,800–7,000 acres known as Zone 6 back into the reserve through land exchanges.
- Washington County advanced implementation steps, including voting to transfer 450 acres in Zone 6 to the state wildlife agency and securing 45 acres for UDOT in the road’s path.
- County leaders cite peak congestion relief of about 15%, while conservation groups vow new legal challenges over impacts to Mojave desert tortoise habitat, fire risk and invasive species.