UDOT shutting down crucial stretch of I-80 for construction Friday and Saturday nights

Drivers to or from Park City will need to plan ahead this weekend. Photo: Kimi Lee

SALT LAKE CITY — UDOT advises drivers to plan ahead for overnight closures of I-80 in Salt Lake City this weekend while crews place beams for the new 1300 East bridge over I-80.

The freeway will be closed in both directions between 700 East and Foothill Drive overnight on Friday, October 28, and Saturday, October 29, from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. each night. Drivers should plan for heavy travel delays, allow extra time, and use the I-215 belt as an alternate route. Visit the UDOT project website to see a map of the detour routes and local area access.

Similar to the 1700 East bridge replacement that occurred earlier this year, the 1300 East bridge over I-80 is being reconstructed through an innovative method known as Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC). Crews are constructing the new 1300 East bridge next to the existing bridge.

Once the new bridge is fully constructed in spring 2023, crews will demolish the old bridge and slide the new one into its place. Building the bridge using ABC methods, many of which were pioneered by UDOT significantly reduces traffic delays for drivers on both I-80 and 1300 East compared to traditional bridge construction.