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OGDEN — The Utah Department of Transportation has closed southbound U.S. 89 at South Weber Drive from Friday at 1 p.m. until 7 a.m. on Monday for construction.
UDOT spokesman Mitch Shaw told KSL NewsRadio the closure is to give the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District enough time and space to install a new pipeline underneath the road.
The department typically tries to keep closures to overnight hours or times when there are fewer drivers on the road.
When asked why they were closing a major congestion point so early Friday, Shaw said that between the contractor's schedule and getting the supplies they needed, they couldn't do it any sooner.
"We talked with the contractor to see if they'd be able to move the southbound closure up a week to avoid that graduation, but they needed to get materials — they needed to get the subcontractors in place and it just wasn't possible," Shaw said.
"We know it's going to be a headache — but, again it's a project that's really significant — and is really important to a lot of people," Shaw said. "Being able to get water to people — I don't know if there's anything more important than that."
During the closure, southbound traffic will be diverted onto westbound I-84 to reconnect with I-15.
I-15 will be the only highway option for southbound drivers in the area.
Shaw also said they will be closing northbound U.S. 89 on Friday, May 3, at 8 p.m. at state Route 193 until Monday, May 6, at 1 p.m.
