Support beam delays bridge placement

Placement of the 3 million-pound bridge from 1300 East to Highland Drive along I-80 has been delayed and won't resume until Wednesday morning.

Utah Department of Transportation spokesman Adam Carrillo said a questionable support beam produced the change in plans.

"We're taking extra precautions," he said. "We need to make sure we can do it right."

The bridge was originally going to have been in place by Monday. It could now be Thursday before the bridge is resting in its final location.

He also stressed that despite the work and delay, I-80 commuters in the area should not face any extra delays. He said three westbound lanes and two eastbound lanes are open during morning rush hour. In afternoon rush hour, that lane configuration is reversed.

"UDOT is the pioneer of this kind of industry," Carrillo said of UDOT's massive bridge-moving efforts. "We're setting the blueprint for others."