While COVID-19 may keep some people home, Utah officials are still warning drivers to plan for heavy traffic on Thursday as many travelers still will hit the road for the long July 4 weekend.
The Utah Department of Transportation also warns drivers to be aware of construction restrictions in several areas statewide that may slow travel.
Based on travel patterns from previous July 4 holiday weekends, UDOT suggests that drivers avoid the following times and places when holiday traffic is expected to be the heaviest:
• Northbound Interstate 15 in Salt Lake County on Thursday from 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
• Southbound I-15 in Salt Lake County on Thursday from 3:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
• Northbound I-15 in Davis County on Thursday from 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
• Southbound I-15 in Utah County on Thursday from 4:30 p.m.-7 p.m.
Across the state, most UDOT projects will suspend construction and open all lanes to traffic to help reduce delays during the long holiday weekend.
However, existing lane restrictions or traffic shifts will remain in place where needed to protect the work zone and ensure safety for drivers. Some of them include:
• I-15 in Box Elder County: It is reduced to one lane in each direction near Tremonton, with all traffic shifted to the northbound lanes. Crews are replacing the driving surface on several bridges along I-15 and I-84.
• I-15 Express Lanes: Lanes are split in both directions on I-15 between Clearfield and Roy, with the far-left lane shifted onto the opposite side of the freeway. Drivers should merge into the right lanes earlier than usual if exiting the freeway in Clearfield, Sunset, or Roy. Work continues to extend the I-15 Express Lanes from Layton to Riverdale.
• Interstate 80 near Saltair/Lakepoint: Lanes are shifted and narrowed on I-80 between the S.R. 202 interchange and the S.R. 36 interchange, and the speed limit is reduced to 65 miles per hour.
• I-15 Technology Corridor in Lehi: The speed limit there is reduced to 60 mph from Main Street to State Road 92 with some rough or uneven pavement. Crews are reconstructing the freeway, widening it to six lanes in both directions and replacing the old asphalt with new concrete pavement.
• U.S. 40 in Strawberry Valley: It will have one lane open in each direction through the construction zone from Daniels Summit to the Soldier Creek turnoff near Strawberry Reservoir. Speeds are reduced to 55 mph, and barrels will remain in place.
After the holiday, drivers should plan for new restrictions on I-15 in Juab County. A paving project between the Yuba Lake interchange and Scipio will be shifting work into the northbound lanes beginning Monday, July 6.
Northbound I-15 there will be reduced to one lane Mondays through Thursdays between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., and Friday from 7 a.m. to noon, for the next several weeks.
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