{{short description|State highway in Utah, United States}} {{Use American English|date=May 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox road |state=UT |type=SR |route=72 |map={{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=325|frame-height=290|type=line|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Wikipedia KML/Utah State Route 72}}}} |map_custom=yes |map_notes=SR-72 highlighted in red |section=113 |length_mi=35.393 |length_ref=<ref name=udotroutelog>{{cite web |url=https://www.udot.utah.gov/main/uconowner.gf?n=6728313068238486 |title=Highway Reference Information - Route 0072 |access-date=2019-07-26 |format=PDF |publisher=Utah Department of Transportation }}</ref> |established=1933 |direction_a=South |terminus_a={{Jct|state=UT|SR|24}} in Loa |junction={{jct|state=UT|SR|76}} near Ivie Creek Rest Area |direction_b=North |terminus_b={{Jct|state=UT|I|70|US|50|SR|10}} at Fremont Junction |previous_type=SR |previous_route=71 |next_type=SR |next_route=73 }} '''State Route 72''' ('''SR-72''') is a {{convert|35.393|mi|km|-long|adj=mid}} state highway in the U.S. state of Utah. The current alignment is an extension of SR-10. The highway provides access to Loa from Interstate 70 (I-70).
==Route description== left|thumb|State Route 72 inside Fishlake National Forest The highway begins in Loa and proceeds north towards Fremont and across Fishlake National Forest. The portion across Fishlake National Forest is frequently closed during winter weather. While in the national forest the highway passes by landmarks such as Foy Bench and The Frying Pan.<ref name=benchmark/> The highway ends where SR-10 begins. This is near the Ivie Creek Rest Area along I-70. This junction is called Fremont Junction by most maps and the Utah legislature.<ref>See Utah Administrative Code linked in Information box</ref> Aside from the rest area, no permanent structures exist at this location.
==History== '''State Route 121''' was created in 1931, connecting SR-24 at Loa with Fremont.<ref>{{cite UTSR law|year=1931|quote=(121) From Loa northerly to Fremont.}}</ref> Two years later, the route was renumbered 72 and extended to Fremont Junction on SR-10.<ref>{{cite UTSR law|year=1933|chapter=29|quote=(72) From Loa via Fremont northeasterly to connect with road number 10 at Ivy Creek.}}</ref> '''State Route 250''' was created in 1953 as a connection from SR-24 between Loa and Lyman north to the 90° turn in SR-72,<ref>{{cite UTSR law|year=1953|quote=Route 250. From route 72 approximately one mile east of Loa south to route 24.}}</ref> but was given back to the county in 1969.<ref name=history>Utah Department of Transportation, [http://www.udot.utah.gov/download.php/tid=1348/StateRouteHistory.pdf State Route History] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070225155542/http://www.udot.utah.gov/download.php/tid=1348/StateRouteHistory.pdf |date=February 25, 2007 }}, accessed July 2007</ref>
With the completion of I-70 along SR-10's alignment, most of the old road was relinquished to Sevier County in 1976. Since there was no interchange at Fremont Junction, SR-72 was extended east about two miles (3 km) to the point where I-70 left the SR-10 alignment to cross the San Rafael Swell.<ref name=resolutions-72>Utah Department of Transportation, [http://www.udot.utah.gov/main/f?p=100:pg:5285268476414239680:::1:T,V:1348, Highway Resolutions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080930165159/http://www.udot.utah.gov/main/f?p=100:pg:5285268476414239680:::1:T,V:1348, |date=September 30, 2008 }}: {{cite web |url= http://www.dot.utah.gov/main/uconowner.gf?n=200609181053101 |title= Route 72 }} {{small|(2.52 MB)}}, updated November 2007, accessed May 2008</ref> (A short piece of old SR-10 west of SR-72 was restored to the state highway system in 1978 as SR-76.<ref name=resolutions-76>Utah Department of Transportation, [http://www.udot.utah.gov/main/f?p=100:pg:5285268476414239680:::1:T,V:1348, Highway Resolutions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080930165159/http://www.udot.utah.gov/main/f?p=100:pg:5285268476414239680:::1:T,V:1348, |date=September 30, 2008 }}: {{cite web |url= http://www.dot.utah.gov/main/uconowner.gf?n=200609181100201 |title= Route 76 }} {{small|(3.89 MB)}}, updated November 2007, accessed May 2008</ref>)
==Major intersections== {{jcttop|state=UT|location_ref=<ref name=benchmark>{{cite map|publisher=Benchmark Maps|title=Utah Road and Recreation Atlas|url=http://www.benchmark.com|year=2002|scale=1:250000|page=68|isbn=0-929591-74-7}}</ref>|length_ref=<ref name=udotroutelog/>}} {{UTint |county=Wayne |cspan=2 |location=Loa |mile=0.000 |road={{jct|state=UT|SR|24|city1=Richfield|city2=Torrey}} |notes=Southern terminus }} {{Jctint |location_special=Fishlake National Forest |lspan=3 |mile=9.629 |road=Fish Lake }} {{UTint |county=Sevier |cspan=4 |mile=17.400 |road=View area – Hogan's Pass / Willow Basin }} {{UTint |mile=18.513 |road=View Area – Hogan's Pass Trailhead }} {{UTint |location=none |mile=33.541 |road={{jct|state=UT|SR|76|dir1=west|city1=Salina}} |notes=Eastern terminus of SR-76 }} {{UTint |location=none |mile=35.393 |road={{jct|state=UT|I|70|US|50|SR|10|dir3=north|city1=Salina|location2=Denver}} |notes=Northern terminus; southern terminus of SR-10; diamond interchange }} {{jctbtm}}
==References== {{Attached KML|display=title,inline}} {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:State Route 072}} 072 072 072