VIRGIN RIVER GORGE – Heavy traffic is expected on Interstate 15 over the holiday weekend, and motorists traveling through the Virgin River Gorge may experience traffic delays.
According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, holiday traffic in the Gorge started backing up in the northbound lane as early as 7:30 a.m. Friday.
At 3:15 p.m., southbound traffic was moving quickly, but northbound lanes had backed up about a mile, Arizona Department of Public Safety Highway Patrol Sgt. John Bottoms said.
“Be patient, leave yourself plenty of space from the vehicle in front of you,” Bottoms said, “and wear your seat belt. Plan ahead and give yourself extra travel time in case there are delays.”
A major reconstruction project is underway on Virgin River Bridge No. 6 at milepost 16. The Arizona Department of Transportation temporarily reopened both southbound lanes Tuesday. The second lane will remain open through the extended holiday weekend, while northbound travel will remain limited to one lane.
After Labor Day, ADOT will begin work on replacing the southbound bridge structure.
Both directions of travel on I-15 through the Gorge will be diverted onto the newly built northbound bridge beginning at 5 a.m. next Tuesday. The highway will then be narrowed to one lane in each direction through the work zone until the project is completed in 2016.
Even though there will be no active construction during the holiday weekend, delays of up to two hours have been reported through the Virgin River Gorge on previous holiday weekends.
Alternate route
Those seeking to avoid the construction work in the Virgin River Gorge may take Highway 91 as an alternate route. The highway bypasses the Gorge entirely, intersecting with I-15 at Littlefield, Arizona, to the south and connecting to St. George, Utah, at the north via Santa Clara and Sunset Boulevard. See map inset.
ADOT Bridge rehabilitation project
Bridges in the Virgin River Gorge were originally constructed in the 1970s and are in need of upgrades and repairs. When this section of highway was built, it was the most expensive rural interstate highway built, per mile, and was completed in 1973 after a decade of construction.
ADOT has completed work on three of the bridges thus far, specifically surfaces for Virgin River Bridge No. 2 at milepost 13, Bridge No. 3 at milepost 15 and Bridge No. 7 at milepost 22.
Work began on Bridge No. 6 in the spring of 2014 and is currently anticipated to be completed in 2016. Bridge No. 6 involves a $27 million rehabilitation project replacing the bridge’s superstructure – girders, deck and railings – as well as widening the roadway through the narrow passage of the gorge.
To stay up to date with the latest highway conditions around the state, visit the ADOT Traveler Information Center website or call 511; outside of Arizona, dial 1-888-411-ROAD (7623).
Related posts
- ADOT opens extra lane to handle Labor Day traffic on I-15
- I-15 Virgin River bridge rehab progresses, single-lane travel shifts
- ADOT begins repairs along US 89A following House Rock Flood
- ADOT completes concrete pour for NB Bridge 6; Virgin River Gorge speed limits
- Expect delays; bridge girder installation begins on I-15, Virgin River Gorge; ADOT Video
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