Utah State Route 44

Infobox road
state=UT
type=SR
route=44
alternate_name=Flaming Gorge-Uintas Scenic Byway
section=110
maint=UDOT


length_mi=27.995
length_round=3
length_ref=cite web | title=State Route 44 Highway reference | publisher=Utah Department of Transportation | url=http://www.dot.utah.gov/main/uconowner.gf?n=7007301676238144 ]
established=1927
direction_a=South
terminus_a=jct|state=UT|US|191 at Greendale Junction
direction_b=North
terminus_b=jct|state=UT|UT|43 in Manila
previous_type=SR
previous_route=43
next_type=SR
next_route=45

State Route 44 (SR-44) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Utah that runs from US-191 at Greendale Junction, southwest of Dutch John, to SR-43 in Manila. The route spans convert|27.99|mi|km|2 as it straddles the southern and western border of the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, and, along with US-191 is part of the Flaming Gorge-Uintas Scenic Byway.

The highway was established in 1927, originally going from Manila to Greendale Junction and continuing south to Vernal. However, in 1981, the portion from Vernal to Greendale Junction was truncated in order to designate that road a part of US-191.

Route description

The route begins at the junction of US-191 on the southern boundary of the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, southwest of Dutch John. From there, the route heads west, continuing to straddle the southern boundary of Flaming Gorge. The highway turns northwest, now fully entering the National Recreation Area. Past Sheep Creek Loop Road, the route begins a more unpredictable path with many twists and turns, though remaining in a general northwest direction. The route continues north, exits Flaming Gorge, and continues north for convert|4.5|mi|km|1 before terminating at SR-43 in Manila.cite web | title=Google Maps | publisher=Google | url=http://maps.google.com ]

History

The road from SR-6 (US-40) in Vernal north to SR-43 in Manila, where one could continue to Wyoming, was added to the state highway system in about 1918 as a forest highway project, [http://books.google.com/books?id=pZUAAAAAMAAJ Fifth Biennial Report, State Road Commission, 1917-1918] , pp. 24-25] completed in 1926,Utah Department of Transportation, [http://www.udot.utah.gov/main/f?p=100:pg:5285268476414239680:::1:T,V:1348, Highway Resolutions] : PDFlink|1= [http://www.udot.utah.gov/main/uconowner.gf?n=200609140948051 Route 44] |2=8.92 MB, updated October 2007, accessed May 2008] and numbered SR-44 in 1927. [cite UTSR law|year=1927|quote=44. From Vernal northerly to Manila.] Two major realignments through the Ashley National Forest were made in 1966 and 1971, the first moving SR-44 to the northeast between a point south of Carter Creek and near Summit Springs, and the second moving it east between a point east of Summit Springs and Sheep Creek Gap. (The east-west road past Summit Springs was only a state highway between 1966 and 1971.) The final change was in 1981, when the part of SR-44 south of Greendale Junction was renumbered as part of US-191.

Major intersections

{|class=wikitable!County!Locationcite web
publisher=Utah Department of Transportation
title=State Highway Map
url=http://www.udot.utah.gov/main/f?p=100:pg:2117854713443240831::::V,T:,346
accessdate=5 July
accessmonth=
accessyear=2008]

!Mile!Junction!Notes
-Jctint
state=UT
county=Daggett
cspan=2
location=Greendale Junction
type=
mile=0.000
road=jct|state=UT|US|191|city1=Vernal, Rock Springs
notes=Southern terminusJctint
state=UT
location=Manila
mile=27.995
road=jct|state=UT|UT|43|name1=Center Street
notes=Northern terminus

References