VIRGIN RIVER GORGE – Southbound travel on Interstate 15 through the Virgin River Gorge will once again be reduced to a single lane as construction work on the bridge at milepost 16 resumes. Motorists are advised to expect delays as traffic is temporarily halted to allow for the movement of concrete barriers on the roadway.
“Motorists can expect minor delays while troopers do traffic breaks to move some of the concrete barrier walls to their new positions,” Sgt. John Bottoms, Arizona Department of Public Safety, said Tuesday morning.
Both southbound travel lanes had been open to help handle traffic during the Labor Day holiday weekend. Northbound I-15 remained, and continues to remain, a single lane. Single lanes in both directions are expected to remain until work on the bridge concludes in 2016.
Alternate route
Those 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, Utah, at the north via Santa Clara and Sunset Boulevard. See map inset.
ADOT Bridge rehabilitation project
Bridges in the Virgin River Gorge were originally constructed in the 1970s and are in need of upgrades and repairs. When this section of highway was built, it was the most expensive rural interstate highway built, per mile, and was completed in 1973 after a decade of construction.
ADOT has completed work on three of the bridges thus far, 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 currently anticipated to be completed in 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.
To stay up to date with the latest highway conditions around the state, visit the ADOT Traveler Information Center website, or call 511; outside of Arizona dial 1-888-411-ROAD (7623).
Related posts
- ADOT opens extra lane to handle Labor Day traffic on I-15
- I-15 Virgin River bridge rehab progresses, single-lane travel shifts
- ADOT begins repairs along US 89A following House Rock Flood
- ADOT completes concrete pour for NB Bridge 6; Virgin River Gorge speed limits
- Expect delays; bridge girder installation begins on I-15, Virgin River Gorge; ADOT Video
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That gonna be a kinda tough round these here parts. cuz all they knows is. ya gotta point and say. datta way.! LOL.!
Quit it, your killing us! Comedy gold!
Or the voice of experience. Yawwwwwn
…………. LOL.!