LAYTON — Gov. Gary Herbert turned the first ceremonial scoop of dirt using a track hoe with a golden bucket to kick off the $97 million southern Layton I-15 interchange project.
Tuesday's groundbreaking marked the beginning of a 16-month project designed to create better traffic flows through southern Layton and northern Kaysville.
"For many years, our state has been behind the curve when it comes to building roads," Herbert said. "If we're going to expand and be the best we can be economically, roads are in our future."
Layton's project will create a full freeway interchange at Fort Lane, replacing the partial interchange with a southbound onramp at Main Street and a northbound off-ramp at Fort Lane.
On Saturday, construction crews will begin demolishing the Main Street bridge over I-15.
"This project we're about to launch will be disruptive at first, but the end product will provide very significant opportunities for this part of the state," said John Njord, executive director of the Utah Department of Transportation.
Layton Mayor Steve Curtis said the new interchange will help alleviate traffic congestion at Layton's other two interchanges while helping revitalize the city's old downtown.
Part of that revitalization will be the Fort Lane shopping center, which will be razed this year to make room for new businesses by the time the new interchange opens.
Besides the $97 million price tag for the project, it will have some other costs, as well.
A handful of property owners will be forced to relocate because of impending construction on Main Street.
Sill's Cafe has found a new location on Gentile, but Allco Discount Auto Parts and North Davis Gymnastics are in the process of looking for new locations and owners have expressed concern about losing clientele if they move too far away.
Other property owners to the north are concerned about the accompanying construction on Main Street, where UDOT wants to expand travel lanes and install a concrete median where a center turning lane currently exists. They say the changes, which could eliminate critical parking spaces, could hamper or ruin their businesses.
Some have expressed concerns about the offers UDOT has made to acquire their properties, but Karen Stein, deputy director of the department's right-of-way division, said the offers made by the construction contractor are the beginning of the negotiation process.
"It's not the end of the road," Stein said. "We always want to have that discussion."
Any property owners who disagree with the appraisals should contact UDOT's ombudsman office, and if owners have a credible claim, UDOT may pay for a new appraisal.
UDOT is also authorized to provide some funds for relocation depending on the needs of the business, Stein said, adding that the department tries to do as much as it can to help businesses have success in their new locations.
"In some cases, there's not enough money to help them be successful in the new location," she said. "That doesn't make anyone feel good. It makes everyone feel bad."
That's why the department tries to maximize the benefits by limiting out-of-pocket moving expenses and follows federal guidelines when acquiring property.
It's important to remember that the money for those relocations is taxpayer dollars, Stein said.
"Whether it's state or federal dollars, we have to be mindful of both," she said.
During construction, traffic will still flow on and off I-15, but because the bridge is coming down, more traffic will be funneled down Fort Lane and Gentile Street.
The demolition will take place during nighttime hours, and a complete closure of I-15 will be required from 11 p.m. Saturday to 4 a.m. Sunday.
Traffic northbound on I-15 will be detoured off the interstate at the Fort Lane exit, while southbound traffic will exit at Hill Field Road. Traffic traveling on Main Street should use Gentile Street to cross I-15 following the closure.
Detour routes will be well-marked, UDOT officials said. Motorists are advised to slow down, proceed with caution and show courtesy to other drivers during the closure.
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