Utah warns delays up to 90 minutes

Utah transportation officials warned drivers heading out for Memorial Day weekend that some of the state’s busiest holiday routes could see major backups, with delays reaching as long as 90 minutes. The Utah Department of Transportation posted the warning on May 20 and said US-6 in Spanish Fork Canyon is expected to see the longest slowdowns during peak travel periods. KSL reported the advisory on May 22, as state and national travel forecasts pointed to another heavy holiday driving weekend. UDOT urged motorists to leave early or late, allow extra time and check live traffic conditions before departing. ### Which Utah route is expected to see the worst Memorial Day traffic? US-6 in Spanish Fork Canyon is expected to post the longest delays, according to UDOT’s holiday travel advisory. The agency said backups there could reach up to 90 minutes during peak periods this weekend. (connect.udot.utah.gov) A May 6 UDOT construction update tied part of that risk to ongoing lane reductions on US-6 for a grade-separated interchange project. In that notice, the department said westbound US-6 could see up to 1.5 hours of additional delay on Monday, May 25, between 10:30 a.m. and 10 p.m., with the heaviest congestion expected from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. (connect.udot.utah.gov) ### When are the heaviest delays expected to hit? Friday, May 22, and Monday, May 25, were flagged by UDOT as the main pressure points for holiday traffic. The agency said travelers should expect the heaviest backups during typical getaway and return windows, when drivers leave the Wasatch Front for central and southern Utah and then head back north. (connect.udot.utah.gov) KSL’s May 22 report said the warning came as AAA projected about 45 million Americans would travel at least 50 miles between Thursday and Monday, with more than 85% expected to drive. Utah officials said those national patterns usually translate into heavier traffic on major state corridors over Memorial Day weekend. (connect.udot.utah.gov) ### Why is US-6 drawing so much attention this year? Spanish Fork Canyon is a regular holiday choke point, and this year’s warning comes with active road work in the corridor. UDOT said the ongoing US-6 project means reduced capacity at the same time holiday traffic volumes are rising, increasing the chance of long stop-and-go stretches. (ksl.com) The department said drivers should consider alternate routes, including I-70 and I-15, during major holiday travel periods if their destination allows it. UDOT also said off-peak travel can reduce wait times. ### What should drivers check before they leave? (connect.udot.utah.gov) UDOT directs travelers to its traffic website and app for live cameras, crashes, construction notices, road weather and travel-time updates. The department says its Traffic Operations Center staffs those systems around the clock and updates them with information from crews and law enforcement. (connect.udot.utah.gov) The state’s traffic portal also provides current travel times, traffic events, road restrictions and forecast driving conditions for major corridors. That gives drivers a way to compare routes before leaving and while on the road. ### What happens next for holiday travelers? Monday, May 25, is the next key date in UDOT’s advisory, with westbound US-6 expected to face the longest return-trip delays. (connect.udot.utah.gov) Travelers can monitor conditions through the UDOT Traffic website, app and live travel-time tools as Memorial Day weekend traffic builds and shifts across the state. (connect.udot.utah.gov) (udottraffic.utah.gov)