The Church Street bridge in Layton is already closed ahead of work to tear it down this weekend. It will be replaced and reopened in May 2020. Photo: Paul Nelson, KSL NewsRadio
LAYTON, Utah — Bridge work is about to cause big headaches for drivers on I-15 and I-215 on the Wasatch Front, the Utah Department of Transportation says.
UDOT is planning to do overnight work every night for about a month after a semi damaged two bridges between California Avenue and 3500 South in the southbound lanes of I-215’s westside belt. Crews will restrict the freeway to one lane for the repair work.
“This is the process that we came up with,” UDOT spokesman John Gleason said. “Through heating and cooling of the bridge beams, we’re going to be able to mold them back into the original form.”
Some preliminary work has already started on the Church Street bridge. It will be torn down this weekend. Photo: Paul Nelson, KSL NewsRadio
However, on I-15 in Davis County, Gleason says crews must shut down the freeway completely in both directions, in order to expand express lanes and accommodate more drivers. They’re tearing down the Church Street bridge in Layton.
Construction means I-15 will be closed between the Hill Field Road and Layton Parkway interchanges starting at 10 p.m. Friday, then again on Saturday and Sunday nights, with a planned reopening at 5 a.m. Monday in time for the morning rush.
“If you can avoid traveling overnight on I-15 in Layton, then you’re going to save yourself all of those headaches. We’re doing all of the work overnight Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights so we can keep all lanes open during the daytime,” Gleason said. “By Monday morning, for the morning commute, all of this is going to be done.”
As to the Church Street bridge itself, it’s already blocked off to drivers and will remain closed through May 2020. Eventually, a new bridge will replace the old.
UDOT has posted detours and other information on its project website.
