I-80 lane to 'flip-flop' twice a day

Call it the freeway lane shuffle.

Every day, twice a day, for the next two years, one lane of traffic on a section of I-80 through Salt Lake County will be switched from an eastbound traffic lane to a westbound lane, and then reversed, westbound to eastbound, back and forth, back and forth.

The lane switch is designed to help with traffic flow during the two-year reconstruction of I-80 from State Street to 1300 East. On Monday, the Utah Department of Transportation will begin using the lane. The agency's goal is to minimize traffic delays during reconstruction, said John Montoya, UDOT project manager.

"It's a 'have your cake and eat it too' type scenario," said Montoya, who oversees the reconstruction project. "It will allow us to construct with minimal traffic delays."

The flip-flopping lane is also known as a "reversible lane," and can be used by motorists when traffic is bad in one direction, then "reversed" when traffic is heavy in the opposite direction. Along I-80, UDOT said it will use the lane to keep three westbound traffic lanes open during the heavy morning commute.

The agency will flip the lane during the evening commute so three lanes of traffic are open in the eastbound direction. A yellow machine, fitted with hydraulics and a movable belt will be used to move the lane barriers, which are made of segments of concrete and are connected by metal hinges.

During reconstruction, a total of five lanes will be open to traffic. The project is anticipated to cost $130 million and is to be finished before the fall of 2009.

After construction, Montoya said, I-80 will have two new lanes in each direction. One will be an auxiliary lane, which runs between offramps. New concrete will also be poured and old bridges replaced.

On Sunday, UDOT plans to shift all traffic on the freeway to the east-bound lanes. Construction will then take place on the westbound side of the road, and after a year, the agency said it plans to close down the east-bound side of the freeway for construction.

Traffic will then be shifted to the westbound section of road.

Montoya said he is confident motorists will understand the concept of a reversible lane. He said he is hopeful drivers will obey the speed limit of 55 mph, and also drive safely along the segment of I-80 that's under construction.

"It's a tight construction zone and (drivers) need to pay attention 100 percent," he said.

For more information, log on to: www.udot.utah.gov/i-80, or call: 888-718-1069.

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E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com