KANAB – The Utah Department of Transportation is urging motorists to plan ahead for daily three-hour closures of U.S. Highway 89 immediately north of Kanab beginning Wednesday.
UDOT will completely close three miles of the highway in both directions, from Kanab north to the Kanab Creek Bridge, Mondays through Fridays from 8:30-11:30 a.m. until approximately April 11.
The highway will be open to single lane traffic for the remaining 21 hours each day and also open on weekends.
Depending on a driver’s origin and destination, suitable detours could take as much time as waiting; so the Kane County Office of Tourism, community volunteers, and local businesses will be offering some extra hospitality to travelers willing to wait it out.
Initial construction work will be squeezed into an environmentally sensitive area between steep rock cliffs and the eroding creek bank. The $9.8 million Kanab to Kanab Creek Bridge reconstruction project is designed to improve safety and preserve the road for another 20 years by slightly adjusting the alignment, widening shoulders and constructing an acceleration lane at the port of entry.
Engineers planned the winter construction schedule to safeguard the local economy by avoiding interference with the main tourist season. By excavating rock during a season of lower traffic volume, workers hope to safely move traffic when the road is open, keep the work zone safe, and maintain steady production rates so paving can begin when temperatures are sufficiently warm in the spring.
Due to the dangers associated with blasting, potential rockfall and heavy equipment operations, UDOT urges off-road vehicle operators and hikers to stay clear of the area.
Recap – road closure
- Mondays through Fridays, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Jan. 8 until approximately April 11.
Resources
- Project information is available online on the Utah Department of Transportation website or by calling the project hotline at 800-253-8946.
Related posts
- ‘Geologic event’ breaks apart Highway 89 near Utah-Arizona border
- US 89T opens, optional detour to Page, Lake Powell
- US Route 89 near Page, Ariz. closed indefinitely
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