UDOT will pause project construction this weekend to support air show traffic

ROY – The Utah Department of Transportation has announced it will halt work on a new I-15 interchange at 5600 South in Roy this weekend to accommodate scheduled traffic for the Warriors Over the Wasatch air show at Hill Air Force Base, but motorists should expect delays.

Although construction will be halted, Utah Department of Transportation spokesman John Gleason said drivers in the construction zone should still expect reduced speed limits and some lane changes. He explained that the agency made the decision because it did not want to add additional “delays or stress” to the roads surrounding Hill Air Force Base, which will likely be present during the air show on Saturday and Sunday.

“There’s a lot of construction going on there. We’ve been there every weekend. We’re going to take a break so a lot of people can get to the air show and back home without any additional hassle,” he said. “There are already major delays on the way to Hill Air Force Base. … This is something that takes a lot of time every year and is no longer a well-kept secret.”

UDOT traffic engineers will also monitor traffic and “adjust nearby signals to improve traffic flow to the base,” the agency added in a statement.

Because there is limited parking near the base, the agency also recommends carpooling or using Utah Transit Authority or FrontRunner buses. UTA had previously announced that FrontRunner would operate on Sundays, which it does not normally do.

But motorists heading north for the event should expect additional project delays, especially in Salt Lake County. UDOT crews plan to complete three more projects this weekend:

• I-80 will be reduced to one lane in each direction near the mouth of Parleys Canyon nightly through Sunday while crews complete paving and striping work. The ramps to I-215 and I-80 may also be closed in spots.
• Northbound I-15 will be reduced to one lane near 6400 South in Murray on weekends while bridge improvements are made in the area. These lane reductions may begin as early as 8 p.m.
• The ramps to northbound I-15 near 9000 South in Sandy will be closed for road marking work starting at 11 p.m. Saturday. Motorists will not be able to use I-215 while the ramps will be closed overnight into the early hours of Sunday morning.

Gleason said people returning from the air show or other day trips could be affected by these projects. Any of these projects could cause major travel delays.