This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The weather may again be cold and snowy, but the spring/summer road construction season kicks off Monday when a big $252 million project begins to rebuild and widen Interstate 15 around the Point of the Mountain.

That work — from 12300 South in Draper to Thanksgiving Point in Lehi — leads a newly released list of the state's Top 15 highway projects this year that may cause the most delays and congestion.

The project, called "The Point," is the biggest the Utah Department of Transportation is doing, said Carlos Braceras, executive director. "We have four lanes in each direction now, and there will be six."

The work includes finally replacing some concrete pavement that dates back to the original I-15 in the 1960s, Braceras said. UDOT has had trouble in recent years with the concrete buckling upward during hot weather because of malfunctioning expansion joints.

"Given new concrete and expansion joints, this should keep that from ever happening again," he said.

Braceras said the project will keep four lanes open in each direction during daylight hours. "But we'll have narrowed lanes, and we'll be moving them around. And we'll see some lane splits" with construction between lanes traveling the same direction.

Some utility work has already occurred along the stretch, but work in travel lanes will begin on Monday. The project is scheduled for completion in fall of 2016.

"It will have an impact on drivers," Braceras said. "This is kind of our bottleneck for the valley. It's right in the areas that we are seeing incredible growth and development."

Another project on the Top 15 list is the nearby construction of a freeway-like interchange on Bangerter Highway at Redwood Road. It will not be completed until mid-summer. So, Braceras said, the two main roads between Utah and Salt Lake counties — I-15 and Redwood — will have construction at the same time for a few months.

UDOT is planning 180 projects this spring and summer. Braceras said it listed the top 15 likely to affect traffic to help people plan their travel. Some of the other projects on that list include:

• I-15, south Davis County: The $126.9 million project began last year and is ongoing. It is adding express lanes from North Salt Lake to Bountiful, and is rebuilding numerous bridges and interchanges.

• Interstate 80, U.S. 40 to Wanship: The $43 million project resumes in April. Last year, eastbound lanes were repaved. This year, westbound lanes will be, and two bridges will be replaced. It will have some overnight freeway closures to accommodate bridge work.

• I-15, Beaver: I-15 is being widened in two locations to add climbing lanes. Lane restrictions will be in place through much of the summer. Motorists should plan ahead and allow extra travel time when traveling to and from St. George or Las Vegas.

• I-15 Hill Field Road interchange: It is being upgraded, including adding so-called Thru-Turn intersections on Hill Field Road on each side of I-15. Such intersections do not allow left turns. Those wishing to turn left must go straight through intersections, make special U-turns, return to the intersection and then turn right. It is designed to decrease delays by reducing turning lights. Construction will begin in spring and continue through 2016.

• Interstate 215, 300 East to Redwood Road: The $14 million project starts in July with completion scheduled in fall. Crews will remove and replace the top layer of asphalt in the stretch between Murray and Taylorville.

• U.S. 89/State Street, Sandy and Draper: Two sections of State Street — from 8000 South to 9000 South, and from 11400 South to 11800 South — will be repaved this summer. Work will primarily take place during nighttime hours.

• State Road 36, Tooele: A 10-mile stretch of state Route 36 in Tooele County is being reconstructed. Construction is scheduled to begin as early as April, and will continue for several months.

• U.S. 40, near Duchesne: UDOT will remove the top layer of asphalt and repave 18 miles of U.S. 40 in Duchesne County. Lane restrictions and minor traffic delays are possible through the summer.

• State Road 108, Roy and Ogden: A 4.5-mile section is being widened and reconstructed. One lane in each direction will be added.

• Provo Westside Connector/Vineyard Connector: Construction is underway on two new arterial roads being constructed to serve the fast-growing areas of Provo and Vineyard.

• U.S. 89/Harrison Boulevard intersection: UDOT will realign the intersection of Highway 89 with Harrison Boulevard to improve traffic flow.

• Antelope Drive, 2200 West to University Park Boulevard: Antelope Drive is being widened near the I-15 interchange. Additional turn lanes are being constructed near the entrance to Davis Hospital and Medical Center.

• State Road 7, Warner Valley to Washington Dam Road: Construction continues to extend State Route 7 (Southern Parkway) near the St. George Airport. This extension will help improve travel between the new airport and recreation sites including Zion National Park and Sand Hollow Reservoir.