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PROVO -- Consider it UDOT's gift to frazzled commuters. By Monday morning, the first 2-mile finished stretch of the Interstate 15 rebuild in Utah County is scheduled to open to drivers.
Crews are still pouring new concrete on the I-15 CORE project in Utah County, but by this weekend the $1.7 billion project will be one-fourth of the way done.
"At this point, 10 months later, we are 25 percent complete and we're putting traffic on new pavement; so it's an exciting milestone for us," said Todd Jensen, UDOT's deputy director of the 1-15 CORE project.
The new concrete will be welcomed by drivers who have encountered a rough road this winter, with numerous potholes in the aging freeway.
"I think this really illustrates that this section of road was built in the '60s and it really is time for it to be replaced," Jensen said.
Construction itself has been difficult as well.
"I'm driving. I'm confused. I'm like, 'OK, I'm not in the lane,'" said driver Therese Spence. "I can tell the other people are doing pretty much the same thing. So everybody's like hitting their brakes and it's just nuts."
The first stretch of the new freeway to open is between 200 South in Lindon and 100 East in American Fork. The southbound lanes will be open in the next week or so, while the northbound lanes will switch over this weekend.
"They are going to start the work on Saturday, and we should be complete Monday morning," Jensen said. "So by Monday morning's commute, you will be driving on the new pavement."
The massive amount of concrete needed requires UDOT to mix it on site. A specialized paving machine takes the raw concrete and leaves a smooth finish behind.
UDOT promises a freeway with long-term durability and low maintenance that will last for 40 years.
"Most of it is 12 and a half inches thick of concrete. Then this is sitting on top of a 3-inch layer of asphalt, and then you've got another foot and a half -- 18 inches of granular material -- so the total pavement thickness is 33 inches," Jensen said.
UDOT says the entire 24-mile project is still on schedule to be finished in December 2012. All projected work and openings are dependent on weather. Check the I-15 CORE website for updates.
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Story written by Sam Penrod, with contributions from the ksl.com news team.
