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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.
Visitor and locals alike were caught off guard by a major interstate closure in Utah as workers race to complete two bridge moves in 24 hours.
The clock is ticking on bridges ten and eleven. The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) has until 7 tomorrow night to complete the move. The eastbound lanes of I-80 closed at 7 tonight and, despite a media campaign by UDOT to inform drivers, some people didn't get the message.
It's an unusual sight, not a car to be seen on eastbound I-80. The closure happened at 7:00 instead of 4:00 in the afternoon as originally planned due to a big concert in Deer Valley, one fans arrived for hours early.
As the Utah Symphony arrived at Deer Valley, there was little parking left. Fans had been picnicking and waiting for hours. Concert-goer Randy Butters said, "There was no traffic, we got here early."
The symphony opened for Gladys Knight, the final performer in the summer concert series. Everything was set when organizers got the word UDOT would be closing eastbound I-80. UDOT and organizers compromised, leaving I-80 open until 7 p.m.
By 6:30, a record crowd was already there, waiting to hear Gladys Knight. Kevin Bentz, with Utah Symphony Utah Opera, said, "She's such a dynamic woman. She means so much to our community. People were willing to do whatever it took to get up here."
Others hoping to get to Park City were not so lucky. As UDOT began work on the two bridges, one at Mountain Dell and the other at Lambs Canyon, dozens of cars had to be diverted back down the canyon.
Dan Kim, who's visiting from Chicago, said, "Somebody mentioned something on the airplane, and I wasn't sure why they would close a major interstate. I thought to myself 'There's no way they'll close the highway.'"
The news he had to take a detour through Provo or Ogden was an unpleasant surprise. "We're not familiar with the area; that's also going to add some unfamiliar territory," Kim said.
There's also good news tonight. Once these two bridges are in place, there's only one more to move this year, at 3300 South.
E-mail: sdallof@ksl.com
