LAYTON -- Main Street in south Layton is now a full-time construction zone.
As work on the $97 million south Layton interchange project heads into its seventh full month of construction, Main Street is being overtaken by orange cones, construction equipment, large dump trucks and detours.
The interchange requires major construction equipment, including tall cranes and other heavy machinery, but most of the work on the project has had relatively little impact on motorists in Layton until the past few weeks.
"The Main Street portion of the (Layton interchange) project is a major project in itself," said UDOT Region One spokesman Vic Saunders.
Construction on Main Street has reached the intersection of Gentile and Main streets and will continue to move northward.
"Obviously, there are going to be impacts to commuters and to business in the area," Saunders said.
During the excavation and reconstruction, one travel lane in each direction on Main Street will be maintained but will be modified as needed.
For the first phase of work, the travel lanes will be near the center of the current roadway.
Business access will be maintained, but driveway locations may change as construction progresses.
Saunders said UDOT has put together a business advisory board, made of business owners in the area, and held a seminar on how businesses can best market themselves during the construction.
"It's going to be a long haul," Saunders said, "but we want to do everything we can to help out these local businesses."
Annie Whittaker, who owns Annie's Main Street Floral, is a member of the advisory board and said the state has kept her informed during the project.
The interchange project is ahead of schedule to finish in early December or late November.
When completed, it will include the full interchange structure, the new Layton Parkway, which includes a bridge over the railroad right of way, and improvements at Main and Gentile streets.
Comments