OGDEN -- The North Ogden Divide, closed for major repairs since June 1, was expected to be open for traffic today.
Kera Atmore, office specialist for the Weber County Road Department, said work was originally expected to last to Aug. 15 but the contractor was able to finish by noon on Thursday. The county road department expected to be done by 5 p.m. on Thursday.
The divide road was closed for part of the summer of 2010 and again this summer to allow crews to widen a 700-foot section on the road's east side, take care of dangerous rocks above the road and do new signs and striping.
Atmore said the work was originally supposed to be done by the end of July, but was extended when crews found that the road shoulders were softer than originally expected, requiring more extensive work.
"That's when they had to extend it to the 15th, because of the work that had to be done. They anticipated the 15th and hoped for anything sooner."
Completion early is a huge boon to the Tour of Utah bicycle race, which has its first stage on Aug. 10, five days before the original completion date.
The tour kicks off in Ogden with a 116-mile ride that takes cyclists over the North Ogden Divide, then around Pineview Reservoir and down Ogden Canyon, three times.
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