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SALT LAKE CITY -- As we get revved up for summer trips in Utah, The Utah Department of Transportation is also accelerating the pace of road construction. It will affect all of us in both positive and not-so-positive ways.
UDOT says drivers need to "Know Where. Know Why," because if you're not in the know, you may end up in a traffic jam that's awfully slow.
"This is going to be far and away the largest construction season that we've ever experienced," said UDOT's Deputy Director Carlos Braceras.
UDOT will make a lot of progress and create a lot of jobs, but the work also causes delays. "We just ask motorists to be patient as they travel through the work zones, but know that this work represents progress for the state of Utah," Braceras said.
This summer, UDOT will tackle more than 200 projects; $2 billion worth of work is under contract. Before the year is over, UDOT expects to contract another $42 billion. That creates or sustains more than 70,000 jobs.
You'll see more signs across the state reminding motorists the American Recovery and Re-investment Act is pumping $213 million worth of stimulus money into road projects:
- On Interstate 80 in Salt Lake, good weather brings a faster pace; crews will finish that widening work this fall.
- Interstate 15 in Utah County is the biggest job right now, under design today and under contract before the end of the year.
- Mountainview Corridor is also ramping up
You'll see more orange barrels across the state. UDOT says the work creates jobs today and prepares the state for economic growth tomorrow. "We're building infrastructure that will help us build a better community and help our economy in the future," Braceras said.
UDOT wants to make sure you travel as painlessly as possible, so they put all the projects online. You can also sign up to get weekly text alerts on your phone by clicking HERE.
E-mail: jboal@ksl.com
