Salt Lake City, UT — Local and national rock climbing organizations are intensifying their efforts to persuade federal authorities against approving a proposed four-lane highway that would traverse the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area near St. George, Utah.
The Southern Utah Climbers Alliance, Salt Lake Climbers Alliance, and the Access Fund, a prominent advocacy group for rock climbers nationwide, jointly penned a letter to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), urging officials to consider alternative routes for the controversial Northern Corridor project. This initiative comes amidst concerns that the highway’s construction could jeopardize cherished climbing destinations in southern Utah.
“We request the Bureau of Land Management and Fish and Wildlife Service select an alternative that prevents the construction of the Northern Corridor Highway through Red Cliffs NCA,” the groups emphasized in their unified statement.
Public outcry has intensified during the ongoing comment period for the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, scheduled to conclude this Tuesday. Federal authorities have been under scrutiny since granting a right-of-way for the Northern Corridor in 2021, which proponents argue is crucial for alleviating traffic congestion in Washington County, one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions.
However, environmental organizations have contested the project, citing potential violations of federal law and ecological impacts. A recent re-evaluation highlighted concerns that the proposed highway could increase the risk of wildfires, posing a threat to the habitat of the Mojave Desert tortoise.
The debate underscores the broader tensions between infrastructure development and environmental conservation, resonating deeply within Utah’s outdoor recreation community and beyond.
