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SALT LAKE CITY — Motorists faced a slower commute Thursday morning due to a blanket of fog covering parts of the Wasatch Front.
Several accidents were reported in areas of thick fog, including a tipped over semitrailer on southbound I-15 near Honeyville. The freeway was closed there but has since reopened.
UHP said troopers saw motorist traveling way too fast and way too slow for the conditions.
"We're seeing various speeds," said Trooper Mercadez Barrett. "Some people think they can travel at normal speeds; 65 is obviously too fast for these conditions. We're also seeing extremely low speeds, which can be hazardous in itself."
Barrett advised commuters to stay under 65 mph in the fog but not to become a hazard by going too slow.
"(The fog) lightens and then becomes more dense very quickly," Barrett said. "So, if you think you have enough visibility to increase your speed, it will become more dense and you'll be surprised by it. That's when the big accidents in the fog occur."
Areas of impact: northern Utah, especially around the Great Salt Lake . Also Box Elder, Weber, Davis, Salt Lake, and Tooele counties.
Moisture built up on I-80 from Tooele to Salt Lake. UDOT salt trucks were called out to treat the road. Similar problems were reported for areas of I-15, Bangerter Highway, US 89, and Legacy Highway.
Trooper Barrett warned that overpasses can be deceiving and look normal when they are actually slick.
Fog was expected to last through the Thursday morning commute then lift. It was the result of a weather pattern predicted to bring snow on Friday. Get the forecast here.
Get traffic updates on KSL Newsradio and check commute times on the ksl.com home page.
