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- The Dry Creek Interchange opens Friday at 8 a.m. in southern Utah County.
- UDOT advises avoiding the interchange during peak hours until construction ends in 2026.
- The project includes widening Dry Creek Parkway and a 10-foot pedestrian pathway.
SPRINGVILLE — Drivers in southern Utah County will have a new way to access I-15 beginning Friday as the long-awaited Dry Creek Interchange opens at 8 a.m.
The Utah Department of Transportation stated the new interchange is expected to improve safety and mobility for drivers in the rapidly growing Springville and Spanish Fork area. However, construction on the project is not finished, and motorists should expect delays and periodic closures through the end of the year.
"During peak travel hours, we recommend maybe avoiding that interchange for now, up until our anticipated end date of this construction being at the end of this year," UDOT spokesperson Nic Naylor said.
The new interchange will allow drivers to enter northbound I-15 and exit from both northbound and southbound lanes. Drivers will not be able to access southbound I-15 from Dry Creek Parkway.
Naylor said residents have been waiting for the interchange to open as growth continues in southern Utah County.
"Construction happening like this, building the new interchange, it's crucial, especially for this area where we're seeing a lot of growth," Naylor said.
Although the interchange will be open to traffic, UDOT stated motorists should continue to expect construction activity in the area.
"If people are looking to exit or get on I-15 there, they can still expect some construction happening," Naylor said.
Work on the project is scheduled to continue through the end of 2026, with additional lane and ramp closures expected during construction. Naylor described Friday's opening as a "soft launch."
"This is kind of that soft launch. People can get using this interchange a little bit at a time, but still can expect some of those congestion areas maybe during peak travel times," he said.
In addition to freeway improvements, the project includes widening Dry Creek Parkway and building a 10-foot-wide pedestrian pathway along the north side of the roadway.
"Part of this project also is widening the road there at Dry Creek Parkway and also building a 10-foot walking path on the north side of the road," Naylor said.
UDOT expects drivers will be able to fully utilize the interchange once the remaining construction is complete later this year.
"Once we have our full opening and we have a little less construction there on the road, then you can use this new interchange in full force," Naylor said.
Drivers should also plan for overnight traffic impacts. Crews closed the northbound I-15 ramp on Wednesday at 11 p.m. to install new overhead signs. Daily lane closures in the area are also planned through Sunday.
