| Work Detail |
The final phase of a major construction project is starting, which means more delays for drivers. Crews are about to take 1300 S. between 400 W. and 500 W. (and related freeway on/off ramps) down to one lane of traffic in each direction. Loud noise, limited access, and long lines of cars backed up in both directions have already become the norm in that particular area, but project leaders say the second and final phase of the road renovation is starting, Tuesday. Mainly, we want to make sure people are safe, so all the ruts and potholes and all those things will be gone, said Lani Eggertsen-Goff, Program Construction Manager for Salt Lake City''s engineering department. In addition to replacing the asphalt pavement with concrete, crews are now hard at work wiring radar detection into traffic signals. Also, construction on a new 12- foot-wide pedestrian pathway is under way. [We''re also working on] colored crosswalks, other things that help folks to know how they need to get through, and bicycle markings, Eggertsen-Goff added. Eight weeks from now, the detours, closures, and construction should be over, but project leaders say it has to get worse before it gets better. Because of the closures, officials are urging drivers to go around the mess if they can by using 400 S., 600 S., 1700 S., or 2100 S., as alternate routes. We are also really strongly discouraging truck traffic from making left-hand turns, just because it will be really tight, Eggertsen-Goff explained. City officials initially planned to do a total shutdown of the area for three weeks, but local business owners pushed for this partial shutdown for eight weeks instead. Project leaders say if all goes as planned, construction will be finished it its entirety by November 1st. |
