This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Construction is scheduled to begin Monday on a new freeway-like interchange on Bangerter Highway at 600 West in Draper and the Utah Department of Transportation warns of several other road projects that could slow traffic next week.
UDOT says drivers should expect lane restrictions in both directions on Bangerter near the project, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except during peak commute times. All eastbound lanes will be open from 6 a.m.-9 a.m. on weekdays, and all westbound lanes will be open from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. weekdays.
The new freeway-style interchange will be similar to other interchanges that have been constructed on Bangerter Highway at Redwood Road and at 7800 South. The $48 million project is expected to take about a year to complete.
Also, UDOT told the Utah Transportation Commission on Friday that it hopes to begin construction next year on a $208 million project to add similar interchanges on Bangerter at 5400 South, 7000 South, 9000 South and 114000 South. Construction on them is scheduled for completion in 2018.
Besides the work on Bangerter on Monday, UDOT advises drivers to plan ahead for delays from a few other projects that begin next week, including:
• In Murray and Taylorsville, westbound Interstate 215 is scheduled to be reduced to one lane during nights and on weekends between 300 East and Redwood Road. Drivers should plan ahead for minor delays, allow extra travel time, and consider alternate routes.
• In Wasatch County, U.S. 40 is scheduled to be reduced to one lane in each direction during most daytime hours. From 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., all lanes will be open to accommodate commuter traffic.
Crews are repaving the highway from 400 North in Heber to just south of Jordanelle Reservoir. Construction is scheduled to be complete in July.
• UDOT has begun using electronic "variable speed limit" signs in a construction zone on Interstate 15 at the Point of the Mountain.
The new signs allow UDOT to reduce the speed limit to 55 mph any time construction workers are present. The speed limit will be raised to 70 mph when workers are not present and conditions are considered safe.
"Our goal is to always keep traffic moving, especially on this critical corridor," said Tim Rose, project director of the Point project. "At the same time, keeping our workers safe is our top priority. Using variable speed limits is a great way to accomplish both."
Now in its second year of construction, several sections of the Point project are nearly complete. The need for construction in multiple areas has been reduced, allowing UDOT to safely return to freeway speeds when workers are not present.