VIRGIN RIVER GORGE, Ariz. — Heavy holiday traffic in the Virgin River Gorge has caused significant delays and backups in the northbound lanes of Interstate 15 on Sunday. Motorists are advised to be prepared for lengthy delays or to seek alternate routes around the gorge. As of 12:24 p.m., the backup in the northbound lanes had reached three and a half miles in length, Arizona Department of Public Safety Sgt. John Bottoms said, adding that southbound traffic was also very heavy, but with minimal delays.

Construction projects in the Gorge are contributing to the delays and backups.

Alternate Route

Those seeking to avoid the traffic backup in the Virgin River Gorge may take Highway 91 as an alternate route, which may save travel time and reduce congestion.

The highway bypasses the Gorge entirely, intersecting with I-15 at Exit 8 in Littlefield, Arizona, to the south and connecting to St. George at the north via Santa Clara and Sunset Boulevard. See map included in this article.

ADOT Bridge rehabilitation project

Bridges in the Virgin River Gorge were originally constructed in the 1970s. When this section of highway was built, it was the most expensive rural interstate highway built per mile. It was completed in 1973 after a decade of construction.

In January 2014, ADOT began work to modernize and rehabilitate bridges through the Gorge. Work on three of the bridges has been completed, 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 anticipated to be completed in the spring of 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.

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