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Sam Penrod ReportingUDOT is in the middle of a big project right now that may have some drivers confused. They are re-numbering exit signs along the Wasatch Front right now.
If you like to give out your exit number, when you are giving directions to family and friends, they might suddenly be getting lost. That's because in the last few days the exit numbers have started to change. For example in American Fork what use to be exit 281 is now exit 278, which use to be the exit number down the road in Pleasant Grove.
If you are confused, don't worry, you are not alone. Utah's mile marker system on the freeway helps to identify every mile on the road. Last year UDOT corrected the individual mile markers that have been wrong, since I-15 was built in the 1960's. Now they are correcting each of the exit signs.
Nile Easton, UDOT: "A lot of people won't notice, but if you happen to hit one of those interchanges that's getting a new one you'll definitely notice. We've had some feedback that people have been confused because the mileposts were not matching up with what Mapquest is saying."
UDOT admits the change will mean people will get lost in the near future, especially those who rely on road maps, internet directions or GPS navigation system to get them to where they are going. So UDOT is working fast to inform everyone of the changes.
Nile Easton: "UDOT, working with companies like Rand McNally, Mapquest, the Hotel Association, truckers, emergency responders, making them updated on our progress as we make these changes."
And many businesses that promote their exit location on billboards are being alerted that they need to fix their signs. It may all seem like a pain, but UDOT says the mile markers are important enough, they are spending 900-thousand dollars to fix it.
Nile Easton: "As time passes and people re-adjust and get use to it, it is going to be better because it is going to be accurate. So when you say 281, you mean 281; it's 281 here, but 279 on the other side, it's all going to be the same now."
UDOT expects all of the exit signs in Utah that are changing to be renumbered in the next couple of months.
