LAYTON -- The south Layton interchange project began in August, and it is quickly taking shape.
The biggest road project in Layton city's history is about 40 percent complete and ahead of schedule, say Utah Department of Transportation officials.
"We are ahead of our initial schedule," said UDOT Region One spokesman Vic Saunders. "Things are moving along quickly, and we're happy with the progress we're making."
Saunders said the speedy work can be attributed to the "design-build" construction format being used by the project's contractor, R.L. Wadsworth Construction.
"The term 'design-build' means that the project is being designed as it's being built -- it's always in flux," Saunders said.
"During the construction, the contractor has been able to find efficiencies that have sped up the whole process."
Initially, UDOT officials thought the project would be finished in late December or early January, but now the expectation is to have it finished in late November or early December.
The interchange structure itself also is going up quickly.
In the past few weeks, crews have constructed two 30-foot-tall dirt mounds that will serve as freeway ramps.
"Just by looking at what has gone up already, you can see it's going to be quite a structure," Saunders said.
He said now that spring is here and better weather is on its way, heavy work will begin on both the interchange and Main Street, just to the north.
Installation of stone columns has begun near the railroad tracks, and during the last two weeks of March, pile driving will begin on the west side of the railroad bridge.
Removal and replacement of drainage lines in the Interstate 15 center median in Layton and drainage work along the new Layton Parkway alignment between Flint Street and the railroad tracks will also begin the last two weeks of March.
At a location away from the construction site, crews are also constructing the bridge that will run over the freeway and railroad tracks.
"The bridges are constructed off-site and then rolled into place once they are finished," Saunders said.
"That's another piece of the puzzle that allows us to finish faster."
The $97 million project will include four on-ramps and will connect to the new Layton Parkway, a five-lane road that will run over I-15 between Fort Lane and Flint Street.
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