NEPHI – The Utah Department of Transportation advises drivers to plan for travel delays of up to 15 minutes on southbound I-15 in Nephi due to concrete pavement repairs beginning this week.

On Monday, May 8, crews were scheduled to reduce southbound I-15 to one lane, from 700 North to Sheep Lane Drive, to begin repair or replace damaged concrete panels. The lane restrictions will be in effect 24 hours a day through Thursday, May 25.

In addition to the pavement work, construction workers will also start work to repair and/or replace several bridge decks (driving surfaces) within the same area. To accommodate the bridge deck work and maintain local access, crews will close the northbound I-15 off-ramp at the Nephi Main Street/SR-28 exit (Exit-222) and traffic will be diverted to a temporary off-ramp at Sheep Lane Drive, just south of the Main Street exit.

The speed limit will be reduced to 60 mph through the work zone. Drivers should use caution when traveling through the area and plan extra travel time, avoiding peak travel times whenever possible.

This $17.8 million project is part of UDOT’s efforts to preserve infrastructure and extend the life of the pavement and bridges in the area. With this work, crews will replace two bridge decks, repair nine others and repair or replace sections of concrete pavement along an 18-mile area of I-15 in Nephi.

For the latest information on traffic conditions across the state, visit the UDOT Traffic website (http://udottraffic.utah.gov) or download the UDOT Traffic app for iPhone or Android.