I-15 closes after multiple crashes
Feb 17, 2020, 5:46 AM | Updated: 11:04 am
Multiple accidents and slide-offs forced crews to close I-15 in Lehi at various times early Monday morning. Photo: KSL TV/Facebook
LEHI, Utah — Icy conditions led to multiple accidents along the I-15 corridor in Lehi, Monday morning.
Utah Highway Patrol reports they responded to 55 crashes along the I-15 corridor with the majority being in Utah County.
Since midnight there have been approximately 55 crashes along the I-15 corridor with the most being in Utah County. State Troopers and UDOT are working as fast as they can to get the crashes moved off and roadways open. Watch for intermittent lane closures & emergency vehicles.
— Utah Highway Patrol (@UTHighwayPatrol) February 17, 2020
Closing I-15
All traffic southbound was forced to exit at 2100 N around 5:30 a.m. as the road was closed. Those closures eventually extended to all northbound traffic later in the morning.
The Lehi Fire Department says slick roads are to blame, so they’re recommending delaying travel or finding alternate routes.
ATTENTION: Roads are very slick right. I15 SB onramp closed at mm282. Northbound I15 of 284 extreme slowing. Consider alternate routes or delay travel if possible.
— Lehi Fire Department (@lehifiredept) February 17, 2020
Utah Department of Transportation spokesman Geoff Dupaix told Utah’s Morning News that it’s been a mess since 5:30 a.m.
Dupaix says a rapid temperature change and an increase in traffic at that time led to the domino effect of accidents.
Slow down your speed on the wet roads. Temperatures are cold enough to freeze any moisture. https://t.co/WkT12Edv77
— KSL Traffic Center (@KSLTraffic) February 17, 2020
“Overnight the conditions were really just a light rain with not a lot of moisture on the roadway, but when the temperatures changed really quickly around 4:30-5:00 this morning, that’s what’s created the situation we’re in now,” he says.
According to Dupaix, the issues seem to be isolated in Lehi, because there has been some unique moisture in the area over the last month that has been difficult to forecast.
UDOT encourages everyone to slow down and drive for the conditions.
