Drivers should plan for Labor Day traffic
Aug 29, 2024, 1:22 PM | Updated: 4:41 pm
Traffic moves along I-15 during rush hour in Salt Lake City (Deseret News)
(Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — Anyone traveling this weekend should prepare for heavy Labor Day traffic, the Utah Department of Transportation said.
Although construction will be halted to help ease traffic, UDOT’s John Gleason said heavy traffic and back-ups in construction zones are still possible. Additionally, some lane closures will remain in place.
Labor Day traffic hot spots
Gleason recommends avoiding travel on Friday and Monday afternoons. He said traffic could be extra heavy through Nephi and Spanish Fork Canyon.
“Southbound on I-15 in Nephi, heading down on Friday night, you could see an additional 20 minutes of delay. And then northbound on Monday afternoon, we could see about 10 to 15 minutes of delay,” said Gleason.
“SR-201 and 3200 West — there’s not a bridge there right now. And so, we’re still having to divert the traffic off the off-ramp there and then back on again,” he said.
Beyond traffic, Gleason wants drivers to be attentive and stay safe. The time between Memorial Day and Labor Day is known as the 100 deadliest days on Utah roads.
According to UDOT, road-related accidents have killed 95 people so far this summer.
“With the extra traffic out there, there’s more opportunities for crashes if people are being aggressive. Or you know, there’s a lot of stop-and-go rear-end crashes,” said Gleason.
