Will the I-215 East Belt close again due to flooding?

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) is doing construction on I-215 between 4500 South to I-80 where the roads merge into Parleys Canyon.  A large part of the road work includes replacing the old drainage system on the freeway with a new one.

UDOT spokesman John Gleason said the temporary drainage system is cannot handle the amount of rain we’ve seen from the last couple of big storms.

I-215 flooding

I-215 was shut down southbound around 3900 South on Saturday when heavy rains inundated the system.  It’s the second time in three weeks the freeway was shut down for flooding.

Road weather, standing water
SB I-215 E at MP 2 (3300 S) Salt Lake Co.
Est. Clearance Time: 9:40 AM
For updates: https://t.co/jaVMw7vcLm

— UDOT Traffic (@UDOTTRAFFIC) October 9, 2021

Gleason said, “The drainage system is our top priority in the next few weeks.”  Crews are also bringing in bigger water pumps to help until the new drains are in place.

The construction in the area along with a large amount of rain led to the flooding and traffic delays around I-215 and I-80 at 2300 East on Saturday. 

Road weather / flooding
Onramp WB I-80 at MP 127 (2300 E / Holladay) Salt Lake Co.
Est. Clearance Time: 10:30 AM
For updates: https://t.co/jaVMw7vcLm

— UDOT Traffic (@UDOTTRAFFIC) October 9, 2021

Gleason hopes the storm moving in this afternoon won’t dump as much rain as on Saturday, and that the bigger pumps will be enough to prevent extensive flooding in the area.

The construction on I-215 and I-80 is expected to be complete in 2023. 

Follow @KSLHeatherKelly