The project is taking place in one of the fastest growing areas in Utah, known as Silicon Slopes for the high number of technology-based businesses there.
Work on $430 million project to widen I-15 in Utah County, Utah, began last April. The project is taking place in one of the fastest growing areas in Utah, known as Silicon Slopes for the high number of technology-based businesses there. It is the last section of I-15 between Salt Lake City and Spanish Fork where the freeway is only four lanes.
The project between Lehi Main Street and S.R. 92 (Timpanogos Highway) includes:
- two additional travel lanes in each direction;
- new bridge over I-15 at Triumph Boulevard;
- one-way frontage roads between S.R. 92 and 2100 North;
- redesigned interchanges at S.R. 92 and 2100 North;
- reconstructed bridges at cross streets and railroad crossings; and
- new bike and pedestrian connections.
Crews with the joint venture Ames Construction and Wadsworth Brothers, headquartered in Minnesota, built a new frontage road system to alleviate east-west congestion in the busy area.
“Most of the work that has happened until this point has been to try to get traffic situated so we can get in and do the widening we need,” said Boyd Humpherys UDOT construction manager for the Technology Corridor project. “They had to build temporary pavements and do some work to shift traffic around.”
They also are working to reconfigure the lanes on I-15, narrowing lanes and shoulders to allow for an extra lane in each direction.
“That allows them to keep traffic moving during the day during peak hours,” Humpherys said. “The reason for that is we know when we go to construction, traffic slows down. By going to five lanes, we're hoping to mitigate congestion. Building this job and being able to keep traffic open, that's the big challenge. Sometimes you can just close these things down, but we've got to be able to accommodate traffic.”
The new bridge at Triumph Boulevard will feature slip ramps to allow traffic to access the freeway traveling north. The bridge is scheduled for completion by the end of the year. In addition to the new bridge, the project includes work on other bridges in the corridor.
“There's one bridge that crosses over I-15. During demolition work coming up, they will demolish part of a structure, then start building the new structure in phases,” said Humpherys. “We'll widen and shift traffic on it, then widen another section. That will be going on throughout the project. All the other bridges will be redone. They will be demolished and built new.
“There are two interchanges getting completely rebuilt. On a third interchange, we're replacing the bridge deck. There are several other bridges that will be replaced. We won't be able to tear down the complete structure all at once, but will tear down part, build part. They will be completely redone, except Lehi Main.
“The bridges here are being built traditionally, built in place. We are able to shift traffic and build in phases. Most of the bridges are pre-stressed concrete girder bridges. They are still in design, but one will probably be a steel girder bridge.”
During the bridge demolition, portions of the highway will be periodically closed for one to two nights. Dominion Energy also will be at work through the summer removing a gas line adjacent to I-15.
Heavy equipment on site is expected to include excavators, loaders, graders, scrapers, dozers and pavers, as well as a 230-ton crane, 160-ton crane and 110-ton crane. The project is scheduled for completion in 2020.
CEG
Lori Tobias
Lori Tobias is a journalist of more years than she cares to count, most recently as a staff writer for The Oregonian and previously as a columnist and features writer for the Rocky Mountain News. She is the author of the memoir, Storm Beat - A Journalist Reports from the Oregon Coast, and the novel Wander, winner of the Nancy Pearl Literary Award in 2017. She has freelanced for numerous publications, including The New York Times, The Denver Post, Alaska Airlines in-flight, Natural Home, Spotlight Germany, Vegetarian Times and the Miami Herald. She is an avid reader, enjoys kayaking, traveling and exploring the Oregon Coast where she lives with her husband Chan and rescue pups, Gus and Lily.
Read more from Lori Tobias here.
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