Traffic Update: People Weary to Travel during Holiday Weekend on I-15
Mesquite, NV, July 1st @ 6:20 pm PACIFIC-
Many people are already canceling weekend plans or adjusting plans for travel Northbound from Las Vegas to Southern Utah. The Northbound lanes are backed up about 30 miles from about mm 113, where the lanes diverge into one lane from two. This goes all the way over Mormon Mesa and past Exit 93 for Logandale/Overton.
It is not helping that the mm 112 exit for Bunkerville and River Road are also seeing backups.
The NDOT construction project in the Northbound has resulted in 1-hour delays this week, but at the moment, 3-4 hour delays are being reported to get to St. George, Utah. The traffic problems do not end just there either.
On the Arizona side, at the Virgin River Bridge Project at the Beaver Dam/Littlefield exit. The project continues with it being one lane on both NB and SB sides of I-15. The NB takes longer due to merging the NB on-ramp from Beaver Dam and Littlefield. Many travelers are getting off at Exit 122 in Mesquite and going up Hillside Drive to Beaver Dam to try and get back on the I-15 and bypass the traffic jam.
Yesterday, the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, Arizona Hwy Patrol, and Arizona Department of Transportation Enforcement were pulling over and ticketing semi-truckers who were illegally taking Old Hwy 91 as trucks have a weight limit to travel on Old Hwy 91. People are reporting at least a 30-minute wait here.
A new location with traffic jams appears on the radar in Southern Utah. The traffic jam is on UT-14, just up Cedar Canyon from Cedar City. The road is backed up from the Duck Creek area all the way down to Woods Ranch within miles of Cedar City. Expect significant delays if heading up to the cool mountain air and the great outdoors.
The weather is still parched and hot. A Red Flag is in place for Fire Risk. Make plans to have plenty of water and gasoline for the extra time. Also, check your tires.
Alternative Route for NB includes following Highway 93 to Crystal Springs, NV, and on to Caliente, NV. Turn on NV Route 319 into UT 56 and onto Cedar City, Utah, where you can get back on I-15. For Southbound, follow those steps in reverse.
The best times to travel with less traffic are early in the morning before 8:00 am Pacific and in the evenings after 10:00 pm Pacific.
Stay connected with NDOT online at www.dot.nv.gov and follow @NevadaDOT on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Please be careful, respectful, and considerate of others when merging. Drive the posted speed limits and travel safely!
