Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Jed Boal ReportingIf it doesn't get you on the way there, it will probably get you coming home. Jed Boal has some ideas on how to avoid turning Memorial Day into an unpleasant memory spent in a traffic jam.
This is one of the busiest travel weekends of the year and a delay near Nephi could frustrate you Monday, and all summer long. UDOT says it's unavoidable. They warn drivers to plan ahead and expect delays if you travel north through Nephi Memorial Day weekend.
Bethany Eller, UDOT: "This is going to be a very impactful project. If motorists can plan ahead and just recognize there are going to be delays in that area throughout the summer."
Actual construction begins next week. To prepare, northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane through the holiday weekend, between I-15 exits 222 and 228. A safety barrier goes in to shift southbound traffic onto a northbound lane.
Bethany Eller, UDOT: "The project is going to be impacting throughout the summer. We felt it was necessary to get this work done, that we needed to add this safety barrier this week."
The road surface is cracked, beat up and overdue for an overhaul, so crews will repair the concrete and improve bridge crossings. UDOT says residents of Nephi are thrilled to get the road fixed.
People passing through will spend more time in the area.
Bethany Eller, UDOT: "On heavy travel weekends, we're expecting 20 to 30 minutes. In the evening, when motorists are heading back into the city, it could be up to 45 minutes."
UDOT suggests we stagger our travel times to avoid the area Monday afternoon and evening, when holiday travel will peak. Take a different route if you can to avoid the area altogether or bypass the construction and detour along Main Street in Nephi.
The 13.5-million dollar project will be completed by the end of the year.
