Interstate 70 begins at an interchange with Interstate 15 near Cove Fort. Heading east, I-70 crosses between the Tushar and Pahvant Ranges via Clear Creek canyon and decends into the Sevier Valley where I-70 serves Richfield, the only town of more than a few hundred people along I-70's path in Utah. Upon leaving the valley near Salina I-70 crosses 7,923 ft. (2424 m) Salina Summit and then crosses a massive geologic formation called the San Rafael Swell.
Prior to I-70's construction the swell was relatively undiscovered and inaccessible via paved roads. Once this 108 mile (174 km) piece was opened to traffic in 1970, it became the longest stretch of interstate highway with no services and the first highway in the U.S. built over a completely new route since the Alaska Highway. It also became the longest piece of interstate highway to be opened at one time. Though opened in 1970, this section was not formally complete until 1990 when a 2nd steel arch bridge spanning Eagle Canyon was opened to traffic.
I-70 passes through Spotted Wolf Canyon inside the San Rafael Swell. Since I-70's construction the swell has been discovered for its desolate beauty. The swell has since been nominated for National Park and/or National Monument status on multiple occasions. If the swell is granted this status it arguably would be the first time a National Park owes its existence to an interstate highway. Most of the exits in this span are view areas, brake check areas, and Runaway truck ramps with few traditional freeway exits.
I-70 exits the swell near Green River. From Green River to the Colorado state line I-70 follows the southern edge of the Book Cliffs.
Interstate 70 Utah Descriptions - I70.mobi
