Rep. Kennedy Urges Federal Action on Critical Northern Corridor Highway Project

Rep. Kennedy Urges Federal Action on Critical Northern Corridor Highway Project

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Mike Kennedy (UT-03) joined members of Utah's congressional delegation in sending a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum urging the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to move forward with the Northern Corridor Highway alignment through the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area.

In the letter, the delegation highlights that the Northern Corridor was approved in 2020 following a thorough Environmental Impact Statement under the Trump Administration. This decision was grounded in years of planning, consultation, and recognition of the urgent transportation needs facing Washington County. The Utah congressional delegation supports the current Administration's efforts to restore that commonsense, locally driven solution after it was reversed by the Biden Administration in 2024.

"This route was carefully studied and approved back in 2020 after years of local planning and community input," said Congressman Mike Kennedy. "The Biden administration's reversal of this project has only made traffic and safety challenges in Washington County worse. Local leaders know what's best for their communities, and I am proud to support Washington County in their efforts to meet the needs of their community."

Background

In their letter to Secretary Burgum, members of the Utah delegation reaffirm that the Bureau of Land Management's 2020 approval of the Northern Corridor Highway alignment followed an exhaustive environmental review process led by the Trump Administration. The letter underscores that this decision reflected years of planning, local consultation, and recognition of Washington County's urgent transportation and safety needs.

The Biden Administration's 2024 reversal of this approval and proposal to expand Red Hills Parkway would increase traffic congestion, displace local businesses, and undermine public safety in one of Utah's fastest-growing regions. As the letter notes, such an approach would be "bad for business, bad for families, and bad for the long-term health of Washington County's economy."

The letter reaffirms that Washington County and the State of Utah are best positioned to understand and respond to local infrastructure challenges. The letter calls on BLM to reinstate the Utah Department of Transportation's right-of-way grant for the Northern Corridor and to move forward with the Trump Administration's preferred alternative, which offers the most balanced and least disruptive solution to the region's transportation demands while meeting environmental standards mandated by law.