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Virgin River Gorge bridge improvements scheduled for Interstate 15

Virgin River Gorge bridge improvements scheduled for Interstate 15

January 2, 2014

Sitting in the very far northwestern corner of the state, Interstate 15 might seem somewhat remote and out of the way (depending on where you live). But, did you know that it is one of the most heavily traveled commercial and economic corridors linking southern California with the Rocky Mountain region?

More than 1.4 million commercial trucks travel annually on Arizona’s stretch of the interstate and in order to continue to serve that substantial volume of traffic, ADOT is set to begin a series of bridge rehabilitation projects on I-15.

Work starts next week

Beginning Monday, Jan. 6, ADOT will begin a $2.8 million project to upgrade the southbound bridge surfaces, repair girders and perform other work on Virgin River Bridge No. 2 (milepost 13), Bridge No. 3 (milepost 15) and Bridge No. 7 (milepost 22). Work is expected to be completed by summer 2014.

At the January 2014 State Transportation Board meeting, the board is expected to consider the award of a contract for the reconstruction of Virgin River Bridge No. 6 (milepost 16). This significant rehabilitation project will include the replacement of the bridge’s superstructure (girders, deck and railings), as well as widening the roadway through the narrow passage of the gorge.

The $27 million project, which received a federal grant awarded to ADOT last year in the fourth round of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER IV) grant program, is scheduled to launch in spring 2014 and be completed in 2015.

What drivers should know

With limited alternate routes due to the remote location of the I-15 Virgin River Gorge corridor, ADOT urges drivers traveling between Mesquite, Nevada, and St. George, Utah, to plan ahead, allow extra travel time, slow down and drive carefully through the work zone. I-15 will be narrowed to one lane in each direction at each of the bridge projects and delays are expected.

Construction will occur primarily during weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The majority of the work will take place in the southbound lanes, requiring two-way traffic in the northbound lanes.

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