$12.5M Trail Construction Launches on SR-128, Closing 20-Year Safety Gap Near Moab

After more than two decades of cyclists dodging traffic on one of the region's most-ridden stretches of pavement, crews mobilized on March 9 to begin building the half-mile paved extension that will finally close the notorious gap on SR-128 between Grandstaff Canyon and downtown Moab.

The Colorado River Trail Gap project carries a $12.5 million price tag and brings together the Bureau of Land Management, UDOT, and Grand County in a partnership expected to deliver a finished trail by October 31. Funding flows primarily through the Utah Trails Network, a statewide initiative launched in 2023 that carries $45 million in ongoing annual funding for trail development, with an additional $2.5 million from an Outdoor Recreation Grant. According to Kitchen, whose title was not confirmed at press time, this project holds a particular distinction: it is the first trail funded through the program. "It's a big deal from that perspective," Kitchen said. "We're really excited to close the gap, which I know has been a long time coming for locals, especially."

The significance is hard to overstate for anyone who has ridden River Road. That shared-lane stretch between Grandstaff Canyon and town has defined the route's reputation for risk, a problem that, according to Hall, has shaped the SR-128 experience for two full decades. When construction wraps, riders will have a continuous paved path from Grandstaff Canyon all the way into town without touching the highway shoulder.

Construction is creating some immediate access changes at Grandstaff Campground. The BLM's Moab Field Office initially announced a full campground closure for the duration of the project, then reversed that decision after meeting with the construction team on the morning work began. Campsites 1 through 10 are now open, but equipment is staged at the back end of the campground and visitors should not go beyond site 10. The BLM asked campers to be respectful of workers in the area. The Grandstaff Canyon Trailhead, Porcupine Rim parking area, and the vault toilet near the trailhead all remain accessible throughout construction.

The project wraps a funding structure worth understanding in context. UDOT's Utah Trails Network, which some sources also reference as the Utah Trails Program, launched in 2023 specifically to address gaps in the state's trail infrastructure. The Colorado River Trail Gap being its inaugural funded project signals where the program's priorities land: closing the kind of dangerous, long-documented gaps that have persisted on popular multiuse corridors.

Construction runs through October 31, giving the Four Corners riding community a reasonable shot at a complete connection before the 2027 season opens.