This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated.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 500 South interchange on Interstate 15 in Bountiful is scheduled to close this weekend, and reopen on Monday with an unconventional new "diverging diamond" design.
The interchange is scheduled to close on Saturday at 6 p.m. to allow crews to finish conversion to the new configuration. It is expected to reopen at 6 a.m. on Monday.
The Utah Department of Transportation urges motorists to pay close attention to new signs and striping as they negotiate the redesigned interchange for the first time.
The diverging diamond design has cars temporarily drive on the "wrong" left-hand side of the road to eliminate left-turn signals and help speed traffic.
An animation of the new configuration showing drivers how to navigate it is available online at udot.utah.gov/i15southdavis.
Since 2010, UDOT has constructed diverging diamonds at Bangerter Highway and SR-201; I-15 in American Fork at Main St. and 500 East; I-15 in Lehi at Timpanogos Highway; at 1100 South in Brigham City; and at exit 57 in Cedar City.
During the weekend closure, no east-west access will be allowed on 500 South across I-15, and the ramps will be closed. Local traffic should use 1500 South or 2600 South as alternates.
During the weekend, the Union Pacific Railroad will also take advantage of the interchange closure to conduct maintenance work at its 500 South railroad crossing. The closure at the railroad crossing will begin at 6 a.m. on Saturday morning. No traffic will be able to move either east- or westbound past the 500 South crossing during that closure, as well.
Lee Davidson