A Mojave desert tortoise forages in the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area near St. George, Utah. (Getty Images)
A long-planned highway in southern Utah hit a pothole last week after the federal government released a new analysis recommending a different option that it says will lessen the impact on wildlife habitat.
For years, Washington County and the state have advocated for the Northern Corridor, a four-lane highway that would have cut through part of the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area to link the northeastern and northwestern corners of St. George.
Now, the Bureau of Land Management, or BLM, is instead recommending expanding the existing Red Hills Parkway Expressway, which runs along the south end of the conservation area, connecting Interstate 15 with state Route 18.
Environmental groups celebrated the decision — Utah politicians did not. In a statement, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said he was “exasperated” by the Biden administration’s refusal to support local governments. And Washington County Attorney Eric Clarke called the BLM’s decision “illegal,” and signaled a possible legal challenge.