Drivers trying to outsmart the detour on I-80 ran into some problems, making it a busy night for both the Summit County Sheriffs and the Park City Police Departments. Melissa Allison has more:
Park City Police Captain Phil Kirk said they’re not sure if it was the driver’s taking a chance or if it was their GPS systems but for whatever reason, he says they kept the Summit County Sheriffs and Park City Police Departments on their feet Tuesday night.
“We had semi-trucks driving through town trying to use Guardsman Pass get across - because I-80 was closed," Kirk said. "And obviously with semi-trucks going through Guardsman Pass, that’s not a good mixture – its very dangerous and could cause some damage which it did and some of them got stuck. So, we had our hands full helping the sheriff’s office and our department both, that were tracking down these stuck semi’s that were, some of them were like, even on Main St. and Hillside Ave.”
The detour is due to the wildlife overpass which UDOT is installing – closing I-80 between Jeremy Ranch and Lambs Canyon.
Kirk said they’ve taken extra measures to make sure there’s not a repeat.
“We put some additional message boards out, for example on Deer Valley warning, particularly semi’s, not to try to take that route," Kirk said. "And we had officers out directing them from the roundabout going up into the Old Mine Road trying to get to Guardsman Pass. It was really a difficult situation.”
Summit County Community and Public Affairs Coordinator Krachel Murdock said things are taking longer than expected so they’ve changed the scheduled closures.
“So installation of the wildlife overpass beams took longer than expected on Tuesday night and as a result westbound I-80 will need to be closed again tonight, Wednesday night," Murdock said. "And so that closure will be just like last night, it will go into effect at 8 p.m. and remain closed through 6 am. tomorrow morning. The eastbound lanes will remain open, but they will then be closed tomorrow night into Friday morning.”
Murdock said anyone traveling through town during the scheduled closures for Wednesday and Thursday, must use the alternate routes.
“For travelers who are passing through Summit County and making their way toward Salt Lake, they must take the alternate routes," Murdock said. "And so that would be either highway 40 through Heber and into Provo Canyon or else, I-84 over through Morgan and into Weber Canyon.”
Murdock said they’re working closely with UDOT, the sheriff’s department and the Park City Police Department to ensure there isn’t a repeat.
I’m Melissa Allison, KPCW News.