A two-year reconstruction project is under way on a segment of I-80 that is one of Utah's busiest sections of highway, but state transportation officials are hoping new construction technologies will limit traffic delays for motorists.

One of those technologies, known as a reversible lane, has been used in states such as New York and Florida, according to the Utah Department of Transportation. Reversible lanes can be used by motorists when traffic is bad in one direction, then "reversed" when traffic is heavy in the opposite direction.

UDOT has already placed special concrete barriers alongside a segment of I-80 from State Street to 1300 East that it will use this winter to create reversible lanes. The concrete barriers, which have metal hinges between, can be moved by machine across a lane of traffic to accommodate traffic in one direction, then moved back when traffic flows have changed.

By using the lanes, UDOT Region 2 Director Randy Park said, his agency can keep five lanes of traffic open during reconstruction. Two lanes will be used in each direction for regular traffic, and the reversible lane in whichever direction is most congested.

The reversible lane will be in place until the $130 million reconstruction project is done in 2009.

"I-80 is a major corridor that we have to move traffic on," Park said in an interview Wednesday. "For the most part, we will always have five lanes total" that are open to motorists.

On Wednesday, UDOT demonstrated how it plans to move the concrete barriers used to form reversible lanes. A big machine, fitted with hydraulics and a sort of moveable belt, is used to lift the barriers, which are then mechanically pushed along the belt and shifted to a new location.

The lifting and pushing is done in one smooth movement. The belt is in an "s" shape, and the barriers are slid along that s-curve. The hinges flex between each barrier and allow the concrete segments to be repositioned.

John Montoya, UDOT project manager over the I-80 reconstruction project, described the movement of the barriers through the machine "like a big snake."

When I-80 is rebuilt, motorists will be able to use two new lanes in each direction. One of those lanes is known as an "auxiliary" lane, which runs only between on and off-ramps. In addition, concrete will be re-laid and bridges replaced.

During construction, traffic will be shifted to the eastbound side of the highway so crews can replace bridges along the westbound side. Then, traffic will be shifted over onto the westbound side so work can begin on the opposite side.

Work is being done now to expand the shoulders along I-80, and also the median. As for the bridges, UDOT plans to use a technology known as "rapid bridge replacement" to re-make several of the bridges along I-80. With this technology, workers build a bridge structure alongside the old structure, then over several days, the old bridge demolished and the new lifted into place.

This technique saves time in construction and minimizes delays for motorists, Park said. UDOT is doing a rapid bridge replacement of the 4500 South bridge over I-215 along Salt Lake County's east-bench. The bridge will be replaced on Oct. 28th.

For more information about I-80 reconstruction, log on to: www.udot.utah.gov/i-80state-1300.

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E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com