Memorial Day travelers will see increased traffic this weekend. Photo: Joss Broward // Unsplash

PARK CITY, Utah — Memorial Day travelers heading to and from the Wasatch Back this weekend should prepare for significant highway delays, particularly on US-6 through Spanish Fork Canyon and along the US-40 corridor near Heber.

The Utah Department of Transportation is warning drivers to expect heavy congestion statewide during the holiday weekend, with some routes seeing delays of up to 90 minutes during peak travel times.

UDOT said much of the expected congestion is tied to holiday recreation travel as Utahns head toward destinations including Moab, Bear Lake, and camping areas throughout the state.

Traveling to Moab or central Utah

While most state construction projects will temporarily suspend work and reopen lanes for the holiday weekend, some restrictions will remain in place.

That includes an active construction zone near Thistle Junction in Spanish Fork Canyon, where traffic on US-6 remains reduced to one lane in each direction for approximately two miles. Crews are working to build a grade-separated interchange at the US-6 and US-89 intersection before winter.

For Summit and Wasatch County residents traveling south toward Moab or central Utah, the biggest impacts are expected along eastbound US-6 from Spanish Fork to Soldier Summit on Friday, May 22. UDOT estimates drivers could face up to 90 minutes of additional travel time between 10:30 a.m. and 10 p.m., with the heaviest congestion anticipated around 7 p.m.

Return travelers on Monday, May 25, should also expect major backups on westbound US-6 between Soldier Summit and Spanish Fork. Delays could again stretch up to 90 minutes between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m., with peak traffic expected around 3 p.m.

Impacts on US-40 and I-15

Drivers using US-40 between Heber and Duchesne will likely see lighter but still notable delays. Eastbound traffic Friday could slow by up to 15 minutes between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m., while westbound return traffic Monday may experience similar delays between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Southbound Interstate 15 traffic between Spanish Fork and Nephi is also expected to slow significantly Friday, with delays reaching up to 30 minutes between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.

For drivers heading back north on Monday, northbound I-15 between Nephi and Spanish Fork could see up to 40 minutes of additional delay during the afternoon.

UDOT is encouraging travelers to leave early, allow extra travel time, monitor road conditions, and avoid distracted driving during the busy holiday weekend.