Font ResizeAfter months of weaving through orange barrels and detours, Springville residents have a straight shot at Interstate 15 on 400 South.
The Utah Department of Transportation, with pomp, re-opened 400 South Thursday after an 11-month, $89 million total makeover.
UDOT replaced the freeway exit with a single-point urban interchange similar to the one at University Parkway, and also put a bridge over railroad tracks to improve traffic flow.
Vicky Curtis, past president of the Springville Chamber of Commerce, said the re-opening was definitely good news.
"I have to give kudos to the business people," Curtis said. "It's been a hassle to get through there."
The chamber will present the 32 businesses near the interchange with "I survived 400 South" banners today as part of the celebration.
UDOT spokesman Scott Thompson said earlier that the state opted to close the entire road for reconstruction to minimize the inconvenience to drivers. If UDOT had left 400 South open to traffic, it would have taken two years to complete the project.
The goal: Have the work done before the Christmas shopping season begins Nov. 27. UDOT initially planned on opening the road today, but moved it up one day to avoid conflicting with another road-opening ceremony in Salt Lake County.
Not that anyone's complaining .
"I can't tell you how excited I am," exclaimed Nicole Smith, who lives in the south end of Springville.
Smith said the construction added almost 15 minutes to her commute to BYU as she navigated through the detours around the construction site to get to Main Street.
Likewise, Jeff Atwood said his commute to Sunroc's Springville store from Payson will get easier.
"It's been a long time," Atwood said.
