Traffic Advisory: Virgin River Gorge construction delays, alternate route suggested

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VIRGIN RIVER GORGE, Ariz. – Traffic will be disrupted Thursday and Friday in the Gorge by construction work wrapping up on Bridge No. 6; motorists are advised to take an alternate route.

Construction crews will be removing the temporary concrete barriers from the Bridge No. 6 construction zone, Arizona Department of Public Safety Sgt. John Bottoms said.

“We are running traffic breaks intermittently throughout the day while their equipment is in the roadway; to avoid any delays, please use old Highway 91,” he said. The traffic breaks will be in the northbound lane only.

“These are the final days of construction and the bridge will be open soon,” Bottoms said, “and there will be no more backups or delays.”

Motorists should slow down and drive carefully through work zones and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

Paving work continues through May 26 on a 13-mile segment of Interstate 15 from the Nevada state line to the Virgin River Gorge (mileposts 1-13) in northwest Arizona.

Alternate route

Highway 91 between St. George, Utah, and Littlefield, Arizona | Image from Mapquest.co
Highway 91 between St. George, Utah, and Littlefield, Arizona | Image from Mapquest.co

Those seeking to avoid the traffic backup in the Virgin River Gorge may take Highway 91 as an alternate route, which may save travel time and reduce congestion.

The highway bypasses the Gorge entirely, intersecting with I-15 at Exit 8 in 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.

ADOT Bridge rehabilitation project

Bridges in the Virgin River Gorge were originally constructed in the 1970s. When this section of highway was built, it was the most expensive rural interstate highway built per mile. It was completed in 1973 after a decade of construction.

In January 2014, ADOT began work to modernize and rehabilitate bridges through the Gorge. Work on three of the bridges has been completed, 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 anticipated to be completed in May. 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.  Paving will be finished in June.

Resources

  • To stay up to date with the latest highway conditions around the state, visit the ADOT Traveler Information Center at AZ511.gov or call 511; outside of Arizona dial 1-888-411-ROAD (7623)
  • For more information about this project, visit the website

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2 Comments

  • ladybugavenger May 12, 2016 at 3:25 pm

    No Mesquite trip today haha

  • .... May 12, 2016 at 5:02 pm

    Ha ha yep they a gonna hasta be a drinkin sum dat Utah beer

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