UDOT warning Salt Lake drivers about a new I-80 traffic pattern

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — The Utah Department of Transportation–UDOT is cautioning Salt Lake drivers about a new I-80 traffic pattern. Officials say it’s part of the larger I-80 and I-215 project.

Salt Lake drivers on I-80 should expect shifted travel lanes

Starting Monday night, westbound and eastbound traffic will move to the outside of the freeway so crews can work in the center of the road. In fact, spokesman John Gleason says this is just the first of several lane shifts planned for I-80 over the next two years.

“When people are driving through the work zone, you just need to pay attention,” he explained. “Even though we’re not restricting lanes during the peak times, they are still going to be narrowed and there’s still going to be a reduced speed limit.”

Happening now: We’re getting an update from UDOT about upcoming changes as major construction begins on the I-80 & I-215 project in Salt Lake. pic.twitter.com/dg0Qz32wBo

— John Wojcik (@wojKSL) June 1, 2021

Improving roads from six decades ago

He says the construction has been a long time coming, considering the age of the impacted roadways.

“We’re going to be replacing the pavement with brand new concrete that’s going to last for decades [and] we’re replacing four of the bridges out here,” he said. “The scope of the project, we’re rebuilding I-80 and I-215 on the eastside here. It was built back in the 1960s, so… it’s time.”

When it comes to specifically shifting traffic around the work zone, Gleason calls it necessary so the contractor is allowed to work both during the day and night.

As a result, drivers can expect uneven pavement, including drainage grates in the shifted travel lanes.

As of now, UDOT officials expect the overall project to wrap-up sometime before the end of 2022. As always, construction schedules are weather-dependent and subject to change.