State officials joke that springtime in Utah brings the blooming of daffodils, tulips — and orange construction barrels.
The Utah Department of Transportation kicked off the 2018 construction season Monday with a news conference outlining its top 10 projects this year among the 188 it has scattered statewide costing a total of $1.45 billion. Many are just beginning now or will later this month.
They include adding lanes on most of Interstate 15 from 2100 South in Salt Lake City through Lehi, major reconstruction of Interstate 215 in North Salt Lake, finishing four freewaylike interchanges on Bangerter Highway, and adding a lane to Interstate 80 in Parleys Canyon and new bridges in Tooele County.
Some projects were accelerated by use of $350 million in state bonds issued so far, part of $1 billion approved by the Legislature last year. For example, a project to widen I-15 in Utah County was moved up by two years, and a project to widen southbound I-15 in Salt Lake County was accelerated by one.
“It’s that time of year,” UDOT Deputy Director Shane Marshall said. “Watch out for orange barrels. It’s not just the barrels, but the people behind them. We want everyone to get home safely. Please slow down.”
Here is a look at UDOT’s top 10 projects:
• I-15 Southbound, from 2100 South to 12300 South, $180 million: It will add one southbound lane on the outside of the freeway. A separate project to add a northbound lane is scheduled to begin next year.
“It’s the most congested area of I-15,” Marshall said. “It’s one of our biggest problem areas.”
UDOT Project Manager Lisa Zundell said it also will widen 7200 South with one lane in each direction from I-15 to Bingham Junction Boulevard.
She said the current number of lanes now available on I-15 and 7200 South should remain open during peak times, but drivers should expect some lane closures in evenings and weekends.
Some total closures of 7200 South will occur to allow replacement of railroad bridges. The project is expected to be completed late next year.
• I-15 in Lehi, $450 million: It will widen I-15 from four to six lanes in each direction between Thanksgiving Point and Main Street in Lehi. It is the last remaining section of I-15 between Salt Lake City and Spanish Fork where the freeway is only four lanes wide.
“During construction, we hope to keep all lanes open” during peak hours, Marshall said, while warning of lane closures at night and on weekends.
The project will include a new overpass to extend Triumph Boulevard over I-15, plus upgrades to the State Road 92 and 2100 North interchanges. It is scheduled to be completed in late 2020.
• I-215/Redwood Road in North Salt Lake, $40 million: The project is underway to remove and replace all the concrete pavement on I-215 between 2200 North and I-15. It will also add a new bridge over I-215 on Redwood Road to allow a “diverging diamond interchange” — similar to one at State Road 201 and Bangerter Highway.
“It will be much more efficient,” said UDOT Project Manager Brett Slater.
Work will also widen Redwood Road in the area from the current three lanes to five. Slater said most of the work is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.
• Four Bangerter Highway interchanges, $201 million: Work began last year to convert intersections at 5400 South, 7000 South, 9000 South and 11400 South into freewaylike interchanges.
“They should be completed this year,” Marshall said. “They will significantly improve travel on the southern end of Bangerter Highway.”
• I-80 in Parleys Canyon, $30 million: A westbound lane for trucks will be added from Jeremy Ranch to Parleys Summit. Crews also will repave the freeway from Lambs Canyon to Kimball Junction in construction that began Monday.
A new wildlife crossing will be added at Parleys Summit. Completion is scheduled by year’s end.
• Mountain View Corridor in Utah County, $41 million: The highway in Utah County will be extended from the Redwood Road/2100 North intersection to State Road 73. It is scheduled for completion next year.
• State Road 108 (Syracuse Road), $52 million: UDOT is entering the second year of construction to widen and reconstruct the road from Antelope Drive to 300 North in Davis County. It is scheduled for completion this fall.
• I-80/State Road 36 in Tooele County, $30 million: UDOT will replace three bridges on I-80 near the State Road 36 interchange. Construction is expected to begin in late spring and be complete in summer 2019.
• Bluff Street in St. George, $51 million: Crews will add one lane in each direction to the major north-south road between 100 South and Sunset Boulevard. Turning lanes will be added to several intersections. The project began in January and is expected to be completed late this year.
• State Road 9 near Zion National Park: Crews are reconstructing the highway through Springdale that serves as the gateway to the national park. Pavement is being replaced, and new pedestrian and bike improvements are being added. It is scheduled for completion later this month, before the peak visitor season begins.
Other projects: Marshall noted that most of the other projects in the state are for highway maintenance — such as repaving — not expanding capacity by adding lanes or building new highways.
“We have projects from Cache County all the way to St. George,” Marshall said. “The majority of those projects really focus on taking care of what we have. Just like cars, routine maintenance of our highways saves money.”
