Q: Is there any reason that the far left lane heading out the South Gate remains a left-turn-only lane even after the barricade has been removed? It would seem that this lane can be used as a through lane for vehicles exiting the gate. Instead, vehicles on this lane who want to make a left onto SR 193 must first change into middle lane and then come back into the left lane once they pass the guard shack. Seems like an inefficient use of the lane. They may as well have left the barricade on this lane. This would prevent people from using this lane illegally as a throughput lane. 

A: Thank you for bringing this issue to my attention. The far left lane on South Gate Drive going southbound is a dedicated left-turn-only and not available as a through lane — thus, it has been blocked off adjacent to the guard shack. The reason is for traffic safety of vehicles traveling east and west on Balmer Avenue at that intersection so these vehicles can traverse this busy intersection safely. 

I realize the intersection has been congested while the Utah Department of Transportation has been doing construction at the intersection of State Route 193 and Hill Field Road. That construction will be completed shortly and the reopening of the dedicated westbound turn lane on SR 193 will alleviate that exiting backup. The recent addition of a dedicated righthand-turn lane going westbound on Balmer Avenue onto southbound Southgate Drive will assist in traffic flow off the base and compensate for the closure of the Southwest Gate. 

We will also install a full traffic control device at the intersection of Southgate Drive and Balmer Avenue later this year that will help traffic flow and safety at this intersection in the future.