PHOENIX — As part of the ongoing bridge rehabilitation work underway on Interstate 15 through the Virgin River Gorge in the far northwest corner of Arizona, crews will begin girder installation on Virgin River Bridge No. 6 beginning Monday and continuing through March 23.
Motorists traveling on I-15 between Mesquite, Nevada, and St. George, Utah, are reminded to plan ahead for construction delays up to 20 minutes, according to a release issued by the Arizona Department of Transportation.
Crews are scheduled to install bridge girders Monday through Thursday, from 6 a.m. to noon.
This work will require intermittent rolling lane closures to allow for the safety of both the construction crews and the traveling public, ADOT said in its release.
While one travel lane will remain open in each direction, motorists are reminded to slow down and drive carefully through work zones and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.
The $27 million rehabilitation of Virgin River Bridge No. 6 began in March 2014 and ADOT anticipates it will be completed in 2016. This significant 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.
Watch the following ADOT video describing intermittent traffic breaks that will occur:
Video courtesy of ADOT, St. George News
Drivers should allow up to 15 minutes extra travel time during regular construction activities, weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Additional delay time may occur on weekends due to heavier traffic volume and special events.
The busiest travel times through the Gorge are Friday through Sundays. With limited alternate routes due to the remote location of the I-15 Virgin River Gorge corridor, ADOT urges drivers to plan ahead and allow extra travel time.
Alternate route and tips for drivers
Individuals 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 at the north via Santa Clara and Sunset Boulevard. See map included in this article.
Resources
- View a project flyer with a map of the area: Virgin River Gorge I-15 Bridge Rehabilitation Projects 2014-2015
- To stay up-to-date with the latest highway conditions in Arizona, visit the ADOT Traveler Information Center online.
- Travelers outside of Arizona needing to check road conditions may call 1-888-411-ROAD, or while in Arizona dial 511.
- More information about the I-15 Virgin River Gorge bridge projects is available on the ADOT website.
Related posts
- ADOT begins largest bridge reconstruction project in Virgin River Gorge, Bridge No. 6 on I-15
- Car gets sandwiched between semis, concrete barrier; Gorge collisions
- ADOT Advisory: Roadwork on bridges continues, motorists reminded to plan for delays
- I-15 construction in the Gorge slows travel between St. George, Las Vegas
- ADOT: Virgin River Gorge bridge improvement schedule
- Interstate from Mexico to Canada? ADOT, NDOT invite public comments on I-11 Study
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