Bonneville Salt Flats Nets Funding for Repairs

Utah has approved $5 million in funding as the first step to help restore the legendary Bonneville Salt Flats speed course.

At least another $45 million is needed to cover the 10-year project, experts estimate. The bulk of the money is expected to be appropriated by Congress and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, while the rest will come from track users and private donors.

First used for racing in 1912, Bonneville has hosted the annual Speed Week trials for 70 years. The events attract hundreds of drivers competing to set speed records across various categories. Last year, a 5,000-hp streamliner topped 500 mph on one run.

The area is the densely packed flat floor of a huge dried up prehistoric lake. But decades of salt removal from mining operations has caused significant degradation. Organizers were forced to cancel Speed Week in 2014 and 2015 because the course was too muddy for vehicles to run on.

As part of the restoration process, salt will pumped back into the land. Organizers also aim to expand the current 8-mile track back to its original 13-mile course.