More than 20,000 people are expected to visit the Provo City Center Temple each day to see the restoration of the historic building, and parking in downtown Provo is limited.
The Utah Transit Authority is inviting visitors to use one of the two convenient bus routes to the temple to decrease traffic throughout the area. According to their website, both the 850 and 830 routes run every 15 minutes and connect riders from Provo FrontRunner Station to the temple and other stops along University Avenue. Group passes are available for four riders for just $15.
The city also approved $425,568 of funding to improve the safety and functionality of the downtown area. Extra emergency personnel will be on hand during the open house, crosswalks will be repainted and electronic kiosks that promote local businesses and sites around town will be present.
After the 112-year-old tabernacle was severely damaged in a fire on Dec. 17, 2010, the historic building was transformed from the ashes to become the newest temple. More than 1,000 people worked on the restoration project. The temple includes several salvaged and reused historic pieces from the original tabernacle building.
“We recognize there is excitement within the community and the Church about this particular temple,” said Presiding Bishop Gérald Caussé on Mormon Newsroom. “What is interesting is this old tabernacle … is being elevated to higher purpose.”
Open houses run from Jan. 15 to March 5. Although admission is free, reservations are required.
