UHP, contractor working to reduce speeding, increase safety

PROVO — It never takes long for Utah Highway Patrol trooper Emery Calkins to find drivers speeding on I-15 in Utah County.

Last week he clocked someone going 82 mph in the middle of a construction zone — nearly 30 mph over the limit.

"Not very many people are going 55, most people are going 65-75 on average through the construction zone," Calkins said.

Speeding has been the cause of most of the serious accidents UHP has recently handled — including some that were fatal.

Even though there are 55 mph speed-limit signs posted up and down the 24-mile reconstruction project, troopers admit most drivers are ignoring the signs.

The fine for speeding in a construction zone is doubled and drivers can't claim they didn't see any construction. "You can't really use that excuse anymore, there's no doubt it's a construction zone," Calkins said.

The narrow lanes, lane shifts and cement barriers make driving above the speed limit more dangerous, and not just for motorists. Construction workers are often in harm's way.

The construction company working on the freeway is paying for the Highway Patrol to conduct overtime enforcement shifts though the I-15 Core project, all in an effort to make it safer for workers.

"With workers right there on the freeway, there are some places where there's not even a barrier wall to protect them," Calkins pointed out. "So if we go slow enough, it will help keep them safe because they're on the road trying to get it done for us."

Troopers are giving some drivers a warning, as they educate them about making the freeway safer for everyone.

If you are pulled over, slow down. The UHP asks that you turn on your hazard lights, move to the right and wait until you reach the next exit to safely pull over.

e-mail: spenrod@desnews.com