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SALT LAKE CITY — Some south valley I-15 commuters will have to adjust to new lanes configurations for a while.
The Utah Department of Transportation on Tuesday warned drivers to plan ahead for new lane splits on southbound I-15 near Point of the Mountain, with southbound lanes scheduled to diverge from 14600 South in Draper to state Route 92 in Lehi as early as Wednesday morning.
To accommodate installation of the lane split, the southbound off-ramp at S.R. 92 was expected to be closed from 9 p.m. Tuesday until 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Officials said southbound drivers can use the 2100 North/1200 West exit as an alternate.
A similar lane split was installed on northbound I-15 in the same area for several weeks. The lane splits allow crews to continue working in the middle of the freeway while keeping all four traffic lanes open during the daytime, explained UDOT spokesman John Gleason.
Drivers should also be aware that I-15 is reduced to one lane in each direction nightly between S.R. 92 and 12300 South for paving and road widening, Gleason added. The restrictions will be in place as early as 9 p.m. up to seven nights a week so crews can widen the freeway to six lanes in each direction.
"We want drivers to pay close attention as they move through the work zone areas," Gleason said. "There are a lot of changing configurations and lanes narrowing that drivers really need to pay attention to."
One of the main safety issues in the work zones has been excessive speed, he said. The limits in the work zones are reduced to 55 mph, and drivers should adhere to those restrictions for the safety of both other motorists and workers, Gleason said.
"It's set at that limit because that is what our engineers have determined is safe," he said. "If you're going much faster, then it becomes a real safety concern."
During the project, some crashes have been attributed to excessive speeds, as well as distracted driving, Gleason said, highlighting the critical significance of safe driving habits.
"It's really important to obey the speed limits and focus on the roads," Gleason said.
Construction on the two-year project is scheduled to continue through fall of next year. Visit udottraffic.utah.gov or download the UDOT Traffic app for more information on UDOT road projects.
