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SALT LAKE CITY -- A major piece of the South Layton Interchange project was moved into place overnight. Officials with the Utah Department of Transportation said the bridge move went even better than expected.
"Everything went exactly as planned," said UDOT spokesman Vic Saunders. "In fact, it was completed earlier than originally thought."
That's exactly what motorists want to hear when it comes to construction on Utah roadways. Saturday night in Layton, it's exactly what needed to happen as the west section of the new South Layton Interchange was successfully moved into place.
Everything went exactly as planned. In fact, it was completed earlier than originally thought.
–Vic Saunders
"It took most of the night to do it, but by 3:00 it was pretty much wrapped up, so we were very excited," said Saunders.
The process to move the 2.4-million-pound structure began around 7 p.m. Saturday. By 11 p.m., the bridge was sliding forward over Interstate 15. By 3 a.m. Sunday, the last section of the bridge was inched into place. Shortly after, the project was declared complete.
Now that this portion of the bridge has been placed over southbound I-15, the step is to complete and move the other portion of the bridge over northbound I-15. UDOT plans to do that in two weeks.
"The work after that will involve finishing the ramps, to and from, north and south. The Layton Parkway that goes over the bridge structure, the bridge over the Union Pacific/UTA tracks," said Saunders. "We're on track to finish this project sometime between Thanksgiving and the end of December."
While the South Layton Interchange project made at least one big stride this weekend, so did other UDOT projects.
Along I-15 at 11400 South and 2100 South, UDOT crews installed new electronic express lane signs. They also replaced the right shoulder barrier at the mouth of Parley's Canyon.
On Monday, several projects will continue. In North Salt Lake, southbound I-15 will be restricted to two lanes while crews stripe and prepare for a new traffic configuration. Closures include southbound ramps at 2300 North, 1000 North and 600 North until 5 a.m.
Warm Springs Road will also be closed at Beck Street Bridge until 5 a.m. Traffic will be restricted to one lane the rest of the day while crews repave the road.
"As soon as that work is done, that will finish that portion of the program and we'll march towards the compete finish of the express lanes project in North Salt Lake," Saunders said.
E-mail: spark@ksl.com
