The Utah Department of Transportation began restriping northern Utah highways last summer, and the work resumes this spring.
The $26 million project creates black and white “tiger tail” striping that is both reflective and sunken down to avoid damage from snow plows.
UDOT ultimately plans to install the striping on Interstate 80 the length of Parleys Canyon, but it’s beginning with the section between Lambs Canyon and U.S. Highway 40.
There’s not a set date to resume construction, but lane closures, detours or new traffic patterns may be necessary.
Farther up I-80, UDOT is hoping to install new wildlife fencing and wildlife overpasses. Spokesperson John Gleason says the agency is applying for two federal grants totaling $30 million.
“This is an area where we think, if we take action, we're going to be successful in reducing the number of vehicle-wildlife collisions,” Gleason said.
Matt Howard is UDOT’s natural resources manager.
“We have proposed two overpasses, potentially a third underpass, and then up to seven or eight existing crossings that we would fence and potentially retrofit in small ways to create additional crossing points for animals,” he explained. “And that would be 21 total miles of fencing and infrastructure.”
Both grants will be awarded later this year.