June 6, 2000
Ten days from now another major road closure is coming our way!
The 21st South freeway will be shut down for several months, and it's caught many motorists by surprise.
News Specialist John Daley reports.
At the intersection of 21st South and 3rd West you can see quite clearly why they need some improvements up ahead on this road, and why things will be a mess while construction is going on.
Frustration.
That may be the best word to describe the emotion elicited by a caravan of cars that clog what may be the state's busiest intersection-- 3rd West and 21st South.
But a new feeling is coming down the road now, with the closure next week of the 21st South freeway.
It's surprise!
Trevor Imani/Motorist: "YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT ALL THE CLOSURES HAD ALREADY HAPPENED. I THOUGH THAT WAS IT."
Cachel Rupp/Motorist: "NO. IT'S GONNA BE BAD."
Gary Evans/Motorist: "I HAD NO IDEA."
The plan is to shut down SR-201--the 21st South Freeway-- from I-15 to Redwood Road.
A temporary ramp will connect the freeway with 2100 South at 7th West.
Then in July, some relief as the I-80 eastbound to I-15 northbound ramp opens.
A spokesperson from Wasatch Constructors says the contractor had hoped to keep some lanes of the 21st South freeway open, but things changed.
Wasatch Constructors suggest 13th South, 17th South and 35th South will be the best alternates to relieve the super-congested east-west freeway.
For motorists that inspires one more emotion: Dread.
Cachel Rupp/Motorist: "IT'S GOING TO TAKE FOREVER TO GET TO WORK."
Trevor Imani/Motorist: "I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO FIX OUR ROADS."
The old 21st South freeway will only be around for a little more than a week.
It closes for good for construction next Friday, June 16, and will not reopen again until the end of the year.
