SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah, May 8, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — Traffic in Salt Lake County will be affected this summer as Utah Department of Transportation crews perform maintenance on 62 bridges damaged by the impact of recent severe winters.
UDOT is warning drivers of a five-day closure to start this week, to run Friday through Tuesday for work on the northbound Interstate 215 ramp to the Salt Lake International Airport. The westbound Interstate 80 ramp from northbound I-215 will close at 8 p.m. Friday, and is expected to reopen at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Crews will repair and replace the asphalt driving surface, a UDOT news release says.
The eastbound I-80 ramp to northbound I-215 will also close at 8 p.m. this Friday for similar bridge maintenance. This ramp is scheduled to reopen in time for the Monday morning commute on May 13.
In addition to allowing extra drive time to get to the airport this weekend, travelers may also consider TRAX trains as an option. Check rideuta.com for schedules.
“The last two winters have been really hard on our bridges,” UDOT Region Two director Robert Stewart said in a prepared statement. “These maintenance projects allow us to get the most out of these bridges, which not only saves us money, but gives drivers a better commute every day.”
Many of the bridges under construction in Salt Lake County this summer are nearly 40 years old. This summer’s bridge maintenance work will cause traffic delays:
- Airport bridges projects: Crews will extend the life of 19 bridges throughout Salt Lake County with several rehabilitation projects en route to Salt Lake International Airport. This includes bridges over I-80, Bangerter Highway, Redwood Road, SR-201, and SR-202. Drivers should expect ramp and bridge closures throughout the summer to accommodate this work. The work is expected to be completed in late summer 2024.
- 3200 West bridge deck replacement: Later this summer, crews will demolish the two bridge decks on SR-201 at 3200 West and replace them with new, smoother driving surfaces. Drivers should expect delays of more than 30 minutes on SR-201 during peak travel times, as traffic will be detoured off and back on the highway via the 3200 West on- and off-ramps. 3200 West under the bridge is scheduled to be closed for approximately six months during construction. Construction is expected to start this summer and will require approximately six months to complete. Drivers are encouraged to take I-80, I-215, Redwood Road, 3500 South and other alternate routes to avoid delays.
- I-15 bridge work: UDOT will be repairing bridge decks and fixing potholes on 32 bridges on I-15 in Salt Lake County from 400 North to 11400 South. UDOT crews will also replace the joints on six bridges in that area as well. Drivers should expect overnight and weekend lane closures through fall for these repairs.
- Bangerter bridge repairs: Beginning May 13 for approximately two weeks, crews will be repairing bridges on Bangerter Highway between California Avenue and the airport. Bangerter will be reduced to one lane in each direction to accommodate this work.
Patching potholes and putting down new driving surfaces reduces the amount of water and chlorides from winter that can get into the bridge deck concrete, effectively slowing the rate of deterioration.
Construction activities, dates and times are subject to change due to weather or equipment issues. For the latest information, download the free UDOT Traffic app on any iPhone or Android device or visit udottraffic.utah.gov.
