I-80 projects in Utah to require major road closings in coming weeks

On two occasions, I-80 will have to be closed for 16-hour periods.

The Trucker News Services

9/25/2009

SALT LAKE CITY— Two bridge replacement projects on Interstate 80 in Salt Lake and Summit counties will require overnight directional closures on various dates from late September through mid October.

The most extensive delays will be on I-80 at the Echo exit just east of the I-84 interchange and west of Evanston, Wyo., requiring 16-hour overnight directional closures on Sept. 28 and Oct. 4.

 Traffic will be diverted to the off- and on-ramps and drivers should expect delays up to four hours during the closures.

UDOT advises truckers to plan alternate routes (click here to see maps of recommended alternate routes) and/or to schedule mandatory rest periods during the closure times.

Coalville, Utah, is discouraged as a rest stop or an alternate route because of heavy construction on Main Street.

 The following is a complete list of upcoming I-80 closures:

• I-80 Westbound at the Echo exit will be closed Monday, Sept. 28 at 10 p.m. through Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 2 p.m. Traffic will be diverted to the off- and on-ramps. Expect delays up to four hours.

• I-80 Eastbound at the Echo exit will be closed Sunday, Oct. 4 at 10 p.m. through Monday, Oct. 5 at 2 p.m. Traffic will be diverted to the off- and on-ramps. Expect heavy delays up to four hours.

• I-80 leading up to the Echo exits will have directional closures down to one lane, five days prior and five days after the bridge replacement dates. Expect the heaviest delays heading westbound on Sunday, Sept. 27 and eastbound Oct. 1-3 with weekend travel.

• I-80 Eastbound at 2300 East in Salt Lake City will be closed Saturday, Oct. 17 at 8 p.m. through Sunday, Oct. 18 at 2 p.m. The detour to Parleys Canyon will be Interstate 15 to Interstate 215 East where it reconnects with I-80.

• I-80 Westbound at 2300 East in Salt Lake City will be closed Saturday, Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. through Sunday, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. The detour to connect to I-15 will be I-215.

 The I-80 bridge replacements at Echo and 2300 East will employ Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) allowing the new bridges to be built next to the existing structures.

During the closures, the old bridges will be removed and the new structures will be moved or slid into place.

This innovative approach reduces delays from months to days.

Traditional construction would require six months of significant delays – up to hours at peak times – and cost millions of dollars in lost work hours and extra gasoline for the trucking industry.

UDOT encourages truckers to plan ahead and stay informed during the closures by visiting www.ITRUCK.Utah.Gov, watching for updates on overhead freeway signs, and calling the Innovate 80 toll-free hotline at 1-888-i80-UDOT (888-480-8368).

The Trucker staff can be contacted to comment on this article at editor@thetrucker.com.

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