New section of I-15 to open

SALT LAKE CITY — Attention commuters who have endured the confusing mishmash that is I-15 in northern Salt Lake and southern Davis counties: Your days and nights of wondering whether you're in your lane or someone else's are almost over.

The Utah Department of Transportation plans to open a new, clearly marked concrete section of the interstate within the next week or two, agency spokesman Adan Carrillo said Monday.

"I want to say two weeks, but it might even be less than that," Carrillo said. "Maybe 10 days."

Temporary lane lines were painted on the asphalt sections of interstate while the concrete sections were constructed. Those lines — some painted in sub-freezing temperatures that prevented proper curing — have been ravaged by snow plows following recent storms, Carrillo said.

"As the winter time comes and the plows come through the area, they'll tear that striping easier than any other time because of the nature of their blades," he said.

While no one can say for certain that the hodgepodge of lane lines has caused problems for drivers, the construction zone has seen multiple crashes. Since Friday alone, on a stretch of I-15 from 100 North to 2400 North, there were nine crashes, said Utah Highway Patrol trooper Cameron Roden.

"Anytime you get construction and stop-and-go (traffic), you're going to get more crashes," Roden said.

During the morning commute Monday, traffic was snarled on southbound I-15 by a chain-reaction crash near 600 North involving five vehicles, Roden said. Then at about noon, a truck hauling two trailers loaded with cars overturned in about the same area, blocking all southbound lanes.

No one was injured in the crashes, Roden said, but the second crash forced troopers to reroute southbound traffic onto I-215 while the wreck was cleaned up.

Carrillo said the new concrete lanes should alleviate any confusion drivers may have experienced.

"People will be driving on brand new concrete that will also be delineated with brand new paint," he said. "It will be nice and easy, nice and smooth."

Once the new lanes are open, UDOT will still use a movable center barrier to open three southbound lanes in the morning and then three northbound lanes in the evening, Carrillo said. The current asphalt lanes will be torn up and replaced with concrete lanes.

The $125 million project, which will add express lanes to I-15 in both directions from 500 North in Salt Lake County to I-215 in Davis County, began in October 2008. It is expected to be completed in the fall.

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