This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
I honestly can't believe that UDOT could be so oblivious to the traffic congestion that they would create the weekend of June 17 and 18. The eastbound access on I-80 to Parleys Canyon was closed for road work and all traffic was diverted onto I-215.
Their plan was to send all the I-80 traffic over the narrow overpass on 3300 South. This overpass is not designed to handle numerous semis and their long trailers. Imagine all of the hazardous cargo going over this overpass with the trucks required to make two sharp left turns. The semis could not use the passenger turnaround that UDOT added and instead had to wait for two long lights.
I live near I-215 and northbound traffic on I-215 was continually backed up Saturday for up to two miles as there is a single lane exit for eastbound I-80. The real snarl occurring as the 3300 South onramp to I-215 is so close to the eastbound I-80 exit ramp. Forget trying to merge through the mess to use westbound I-80.
Local traffic was impossible on Wasatch Boulevard and 3300 South near the overpass due to the additional traffic and semi trailers blocking the intersection as traffic was not moving.
Dan Yeager
Millcreek