Holiday motorists may face unusual traffic congestion this weekend, Utah Department of Transportation warned Friday.

Traffic jams could be worse in Utah County, where Interstate 15 reconstruction will mix with southern Utah getaways and the home opener for Brigham Young University's football team.

The football game, against PAC-10 opponent Washington, starts at 5 p.m. today.

Meanwhile, lane restrictions from Provo to Spanish Fork will squeeze holiday traffic. Construction work north of Provo also should slow traffic, though there are no lane reductions there. UDOT advises allowing extra time to reach the game and offers a fourth-quarter text message with a traffic update to anyone who texts "i15" to 53535.

UDOT encouraged holiday travelers to stay beyond Monday to avoid heavy traffic on the return trip, and coordinated discounts with hoteliers and others (offers available at www.udot.utah.gov/stayanextraday).

But travelers staying south of the Wasatch Front for more than one extra day should be aware of planned midweek work on I-15. UDOT plans to close I-15 in both directions at the Main Street interchange in Spanish Fork overnight on Wednesday and Thursday from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. each night. Traffic will detour, and delays are expected as crews place girders on the new 2700 North bridge over the freeway.

The Salt Lake Tribune