After a litany of unexpected challenges caused workers to miss the originally anticipated November 2022 completion date, motorists and area businesses can expect relief next summer.
The rebuild was supposed to be done by now, but the project was dogged by months of delays. Now some worry about the final phase of construction.By Blake ApgarRoadwork on Salt Lake City’s 300 West was supposed to be done by now. After 19 months, the heavy machinery, orange cones, closed lanes and backed-up traffic were supposed to be in the rearview mirror.
Adams said workers found a second concrete roadway under 1300 South in 2021 that had to be removed to complete utility work in the area.Crews also found oil and gas contamination in the intersection of 2100 South that took several weeks to clean up. All of the soil, Adams said, needed to be removed and replaced.
This year, the project was dogged by a concrete shortage, resulting in an 80% reduction in the amount of concrete workers were able to pour.“We just didn’t have enough people,” Adams said, “to get the work done.”said, and still within budget. But the homestretch still has some business owners feeling anxious about how their shops will be affected.at 945 S. 300 West, worries customers will lose access to his restaurant’s front door for months when construction picks up again in the spring. He is bracing to operate solely on pickup and delivery orders.
“If I survive it, losing the front door for two or three months, however long it’s going to take, when it comes out the other end, my customers can’t park in front of my business,” he said. “They’re going to park around the corner. Some will; some won’t.”