Traffic delays of up to 20 minutes possible during Fourth of July weekend, UDOT says

SALT LAKE CITY — Over 72 million Americans are expected to travel for the Fourth of July, which could surpass the previous record of 71.8 million set last year, according to AAA.

That’s based on a nine-day travel window that has already opened since many Americans take the whole week off to celebrate, said Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel. Given this year’s America 250 anniversary, it’s possible that some will make this holiday extra special.

“While the overall number of Independence Day travelers appears to be plateauing, we’re still expecting record volumes this year,” she said in a statement.

The holiday falls on a Saturday this year and many governments and employers are observing it on Friday. Thus, the Utah Department of Transportation doesn’t anticipate there to be as extreme road delays as other summer holiday weekends.

Still, the agency warns that additional delays of 10 to 20 minutes are possible at peak travel times on major routes, such as I-15 and U.S. 6.

Bigger impacts could occur where festivities are planned for the holiday, UDOT officials say. Several cities will host events on Saturday that will close some local roads.

Most of the state’s construction projects will be suspended to allow for lanes to open, but some lane restrictions and traffic shifts will remain in place this weekend for safety reasons. These include a work zone along U.S. 6 in Spanish Fork Canyon, which may factor in the highway’s projected delays.

Another project is expected to create impacts in Davis County after the holiday. UDOT plans to close a section of Park Lane (from I-15 and U.S. 89) early Tuesday to build a pedestrian underpass in the area. The road closure will remain in place through July 21.

The project will eventually provide pedestrians and cyclists with more options in the area and connect the Farmington FrontRunner station to Lagoon Amusement Park.

Busy parks

Utah’s “Mighty 5” figures to be a key destination for the holiday, as they are every year. Zion National Park officials said visitors should expect long lines and lengthy waits everywhere, from the entrance station to shuttle buses to trailheads.

State parks could also be busy, as Utah offers a new incentive seeking to dissuade people from fire-related activities during the holiday. Anyone who visits a state park on Saturday will receive a “bounce-back offer,” which is good for one free day-use admission at any Utah state park between Aug. 3 and Aug. 6.

All state parks and nearly all public lands in the state are currently under Stage 2 fire restrictions.

Gas prices continue to slide

Utah drivers continue to benefit from the Strait of Hormuz remaining open, which could entice more holiday travel this weekend. The state’s average gas price fell to $3.87 per gallon on Thursday, 54 cents above this time last year but 68 cents below its average a month ago, according to AAA.

Davis County’s average of $3.73 per gallon for regular gasoline is the cheapest in the state heading into the holiday weekend, followed closely by Cache, Salt Lake, Utah and Weber counties, which all average $3.74 per gallon. It’s still as high as $4.75 per gallon in Daggett County, which is the highest total, with other higher totals in southern and eastern Utah.

Experts have pointed to crude oil making it through the Strait of Hormuz in Iran for the slide, which had been closed for months since the U.S. began attacking the country in late February. The closure strained the whole global oil supply chain, Doug Johnson, a spokesperson for AAA Mountain West Group, explained last month.

With tensions easing in recent weeks, the supply chain has been steadily getting back to normal.

“These sliding gas prices are welcome news for millions of people who are preparing to travel for Independence Day in record numbers,” he said.

Events that cause traffic delays in Utah

These are some of the Fourth of July events that could cause the biggest road disruptions, according to the Utah Department of Transportation.

• West Jordan Grand Parade: Redwood Road (between 8000 South and 7000 South) will be closed from 10:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 7000 South from Redwood Road to 2200 West will also be closed.
• Independence Day Grand Parade (Provo): University Avenue (between Provo High School and 200 South) will be closed from 8 a.m. until the parade concludes. Some other streets in the area will also be part of the parade route, including Center Street. No roads will be closed for Stadium of Fire later in the day, but “heavy traffic” is expected near LaVell Edwards Stadium (1700 N. Canyon Road).
• Zion Canyon Independence Day Parade (Springdale): State Route 9 (between Sage Lane and Park Lane) will be closed from 8:30 a.m. to noon.
• Fun Days Parade (Murray): State Street (between 6400 South and 4800 South) will be closed beginning at 7:30 a.m. Multiple local streets will be closed for the parade. It will reopen later in the day.