Utah State Route 276

Infobox road
state=UT
type=SR
route=276
section=133
maint=UDOT
length_mi=89.815
length_ref=cite web
url=http://www.udot.utah.gov/main/uconowner.gf?n=7140921265783134
format=PDF
title=Highway Reference - SR-276
publisher=Utah Department of Transportation
accessdate=2008-06-23]
established=1965
direction_a=West
terminus_a=jct|state=UT|UT|95 at Trachyte Junction
direction_b=East
terminus_b=jct|state=UT|UT|95 near Hanksville
previous_type=SR
previous_route=275
next_type=SR
next_route=279

State Route 276 is a state highway located in southwest-central San Juan, eastern Garfield, and a tiny portion of northeastern Kane counties, in the southeast of the U.S. state of Utah. The northern section was created in 1965 as an access road to Bullfrog Basin, while the southern section was added in 1969, but was designated SR-263 until 1985. The two are connected by the John Atlantic Burr Ferry across Lake Powell.

Route description

Separated by the Colorado River, Lake Powell, and Glen Canyon, SR-276 is in two sections. The 2 sections are connected via the John Atlantic Burr Toll Ferry. The first section runs 43-miles south-southwest, from the junction of SR-95 northeast of Mount Hillers (Elev. 10,723) to the Colorado River and Bullfrog (also called Bullfrog Basin). The second section runs east-northeast for 49-miles, from the marina and ferry at Halls Crossing, to rejoin State Route 95 near Natural Bridges National Monument. The northern section of SR-276 passes through the tiny community of Ticaboo along the way. The state of Utah's administrative portion of the highway ends at the boundary of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (northern portion 35 miles, southern portion 36 miles). The U.S. Department of the Interior maintains the road surface within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

History

The State Road Commission designated SR-276 in 1965, linking SR-95 with the Bullfrog Basin portion of the new Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The original planned alignment followed an existing unpaved county road, beginning at the former alignment of SR-95 at Trachyte Junction (roughly coord|38.038|N|110.623|W|format=dms) and heading generally south to the junction of Shitamaring Creek and Lost Spring Wash. The proposed road continued down Shitamaring Creek and Hansen Creek to the recreation boundary. However, when built in the late 1960s, [Federal Highway Administration, National Bridge Inventory database, 2006] the final route was east of the existing county road, only joining the initial proposal along Hansen Creek south of Ticaboo.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=200609201406221 Route 276] |2=1.54 MB, updated December 2007, accessed May 2008]

State Route 263 was created by the state legislature in 1969, connecting the recreation area near Halls Crossing with SR-95 near Natural Bridges National Monument. This was an existing county road, only requiring minor realignments west of Red House Spring. Ferry service between Bullfrog Basin and Halls Crossing began in 1985, [Mike Leary, Philadelphia Inquirer, Two Sides Clash Over Taming a Trail for Tourism, November 10, 1985] and that year SR-276 was extended to absorb SR-263 for continuity.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=200609201352441 Route 263] |2=2.40 MB, updated December 2007, accessed May 2008]

Major intersections

jctint
state=UT
county=Garfield
cspan=2
location=Trachyte Junction
mile=0.000
road=jct|state=UT|SR|95
notes=Western terminusjctint
mile=34.990
location=
lspan=3
road=Entrance to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
notes=State maintenance endsjctint
state=UT
county=San Juan
cspan=2
mile=53.743
road=Exit from Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
notes=State maintenance beginsjctint
mile=89.815
road=jct|state=UT|SR|95
notes=Eastern terminus

References