UDOT plans major repairs

Despite this week's cold snap, the Utah Department of Transportation is rolling out the orange construction barrels and preparing for a busy summer fixing state roads.

A total of 192 projects, ranging from pothole repairs to major repaving and rehabilitation projects, are planned for Utah roads. The cost: $1.4 billion.

Because of Utah's cold winters, most road work on state highways takes place during the summer. This year will include several projects on I-15, including the $265 million I-15 NOW reconstruction project in Weber County — one of the largest projects UDOT has ever done.

In central Utah, I-15 will be reduced to one lane in each direction from Scipio, in Millard County, until about six miles north of the Juab-Millard county line. In southern Utah, work has already begun to repair I-15 from St. George to the Arizona state line.

Those are only a few of the projects scheduled this summer.

N. — UDOT Region 1

Work on the I-15 NOW reconstruction project — the state's largest road project — will continue this summer, with all-night road closures and lane restrictions scheduled.

The project extends from I-84 in Riverdale to 2700 North in Farr West. The work has been ongoing since last spring. When it's finished in 2008, a new lane will be added to I-15 in each direction.

UDOT is also adding new auxiliary lanes to I-15 from Layton to the Riverdale area. The new lanes will serve as connections between interchanges and are intended to help reduce traffic, said region director Cory Pope. Work started in February and will end this summer.

Another big project is the Legacy Parkway, which will stretch from North Salt Lake to Farmington in Davis County. Work on the highway began last year and is expected to end in 2008.

"I would say that for better or worse, we're getting used to highway construction in northern Utah," Pope said.

Wasatch — Region 2

Road work will impact several local streets in Salt Lake County this year. One project will reconstruct 10600 South from I-15 to State Street. Another will reconstruct State Street from 9000 South to 10600 South.

Both will hopefully help traffic flow when they're complete, said region director Randy Park.

Beginning last month, all left turns were blocked along 10600 South, impacting access to the South Towne Mall and South Towne Auto Mall. Left turns will not be allowed until the end of April, or early May, when the project is completed. When it's done, UDOT will have fixed pavement in the area and improved sidewalks and road drainage.

State Street in the area will be expanded from five to seven lanes. Work will end this fall.