NORTH SALT LAKE — The excavation of a gas pipeline under Interstate 15 that took place nearly two years ago is still giving the state road department headaches.
This week, the Utah Department of Transportation will perform extensive repairs to the northbound lanes of I-15 in North Salt Lake, near Mile Marker 313.
Damage was caused in the area in late 2010 by the excavation for a gas pipeline owned by the Kern River Gas Transmission Company. The pipeline ran under the highway.
The excavation caused damage in the eventual form of a dip in the northbound lanes. Highway 89, which runs parallel to I-15 in the area, also saw some damage but that has since been repaired.
Initial efforts to repair the interstate stabilized the road but left a noticeable bump.
Earlier this year, crews repaired damage just beneath the surface of the road and smoothed out the bump, but that measure has failed as well.
UDOT Region One spokesman Vic Saunders said another project on the section of I-15 will begin Wednesday evening.
Crews will dig up the roadway and replace it with sections of prefabricated concrete panels.
“Basically, this spot isn’t water-tight anymore,” Saunders said. “So we have to go in and put in some new fill material and replace these sections of the road.”
Once the work begins, two lanes of northbound I-15 will be closed in the area from 10:30 p.m. to 9 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday,
On Friday night, three lanes will be closed during the same time frame.
The project will likely cause major delays on I-15 through southern Davis County.
During construction times, Saunders said, motorists with time-sensitive travel should consider alternative northbound routes, such as U.S. 89, Redwood Road or Interstate 215.
“We’re hoping this does the trick, and we won’t have to spend any more time there,” Saunders said.
All of the repair work is being paid for by Kern River.
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