ST. GEORGE — Officials are advising motorists traveling along northbound Interstate 15 – from the Nevada State line to Arizona Exit 8 – to find an alternate route this week to avoid heavy delays.
Northbound motorists should use the alternate route Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Arizona Department of Transportation engineer Adam Carreon said in an email to St. George News.
Additionally, southbound motorists in the same area Tuesday can expect delays of up to one hour during the day, Carreon said.
The Mesquite Police Department recommended Tuesday that motorists use Highway 91, if possible.
“Traffic is expected to backup due to only one lane being open in Arizona, and the speed limit being lowered,” the Police Department said, adding that the delay would likely occur between the hours of 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Delays are due to a 13-mile pavement improvement project along the I-15 stretch in Arizona.
The $10.4 million project includes paving the 13-mile stretch of roadway from mileposts 0 to 13, replacing a bridge barrier, sealing the existing bridge deck and installing new guardrail.
Other construction delays
Motorists are also reminded to plan for additional travel delays while ADOT continues a major reconstruction of the Virgin River Bridge No. 6 at milepost 16, midway between Mesquite, Nevada, and St. George.
The highway is narrowed to one lane in each direction through the work zone until the project is completed in summer 2016. This $27 million project includes the replacement of the bridge’s superstructure — girders, deck and railings — as well as widening the roadway through the narrow passage of the gorge.
With limited alternate routes through this corridor, ADOT officials said, drivers should plan ahead, allow extra travel time, slow down and drive carefully through the work zone. Drivers are also asked to be alert for construction equipment and personnel.
Alternate route
Those seeking to avoid the traffic backup in and near the Virgin River Gorge may take Highway 91 as an alternate route.
Highway 91 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.
Resources
- ADOT Traveler Information Center | Telephone 511 from within Arizona, 888-411-7623 from outside Arizona
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.
It doesn’t seem as though the infamous “alternate route” would help on this one.
Never Mind, answered my own question…