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Jed Boal ReportingMany of us have run into highway closures in recent weeks that caught us by surprise. UDOT is urging anyone traveling the interstates in and around Salt Lake this weekend to plan ahead to avoid problems.
This weekend and every weekend this summer the I-15 closures for bridge joint repair are ongoing. This is the biggest highway construction season since the Olympics.
Saturday traffic this spring in places brings back memories of I-15 reconstruction that ended three years ago. The closures last all weekend, delay traffic on surface streets, and test our patience.
Brent Wilhite, UDOT: “The best thing is to pay attention, follow the signs and know before you go. Check commuter link so you can find out what's happening and work your routes around that."
The main closure is on I-15 Southbound from the I-215 interchange in North Salt Lake to 1300 South. It closes tonight at eight and re-opens Monday at six a.m. Coming in from the north, you'll be detoured to I-215, or Beck Street will be open.
There are other scattered closures around the valley including on-ramps from Redwood Road to I-80 Westbound and I-215 Southbound.
Starting next weekend KSL NewsRadio will air traffic reports four times an hour on Saturdays from ten until six.
Rod Arquette, KSL NewsRadio 1160: “We felt we’ve got to respond to the listeners' needs. We get a lot of calls on our tipster line. We felt the need was there and we're going to help people out."
The full closures may be a hassle, but they're enabling crews to get the bridge-work done.
Brent Wilhite, UDOT: “We're ahead of schedule two weeks. Hopefully we'll be able to stay ahead of schedule and minimize the impact to motorists.”
