BYU conferencegoers may face traffic

PROVO — The crush of orange barrels won't impede motorists attending Women's Conference too much this year.

Fortunately for the thousands of people expected to attend the annual conference at Brigham Young University Thursday and Friday, road construction won't be too much of a problem. But traffic, unfortunately, still will.

However, there are a few construction projects Women's Conference attendees need to know about as they are trying to wend their way to BYU's Provo campus.

Crews from the Utah Department of Transportation aren't working on any projects on University Parkway in Orem — the main road leading to BYU. But work continues on another main road, 800 North in Orem. The work limits the road to two lanes.

Workers from Lindon are digging a tunnel underneath State Street for a trail between Center Street and 200 North in Lindon, causing only one northbound lane and two southbound lanes to be open.

UDOT is also working on putting a cable barrier in the median of U.S. 189 in Provo Canyon between Bridal Veil Falls and the Sundance turnoff, which caused them to close one lane in both directions, said Scott Thompson, UDOT region 3 spokesman.

Conferencegoers should expect to find themselves in some heavy traffic both days of the conference, which is held in various parts of campus.

"As you get into Orem, traffic does start to back up," said Carri Jenkins, BYU spokeswoman. "They should plan on a little bit of delay and give themselves enough time so they don't become anxious."

Parking for the conference is available north of the Marriott Center as well as at LaVell Edwards Stadium, and visitors should give themselves about five to 10 minutes to walk to their destinations, Jenkins said.

Last year's conference resulted in traffic backed up along University Parkway in Orem to Interstate 15, as well as congestion on Center Street in Provo. For those unfamiliar with the Provo/Orem area, there are several less-traveled ways to get to BYU without having to take University Parkway or Center in Provo.

Those coming from southern Utah County have a few options.

Taking the University Avenue exit from I-15 in south Provo allows drivers to avoid Center Street. From there, there are several options: Take University Parkway to 300 South, turn east and drive until 900 East, take 900 East north to University Parkway, turn west onto University Parkway and turn into one of the allotted parking lots.