‘Plan ahead’: UDOT anticipates heavy traffic for Memorial Day weekend

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Summer unofficially kicks off this weekend with the first warm three-day weekend. More than 45 million Americans are expected to travel between Thursday and Monday, which experts say would set a new Memorial Day weekend record.

And Utah is no exception.

In anticipation of the spike in road travel, the Utah Department of Transportation is urging Utahns to prepare for travel delays, particularly on I-15 and U.S. Highway 6.

At the start of the weekend on Friday, May 23, drivers on I-15 in Salt Lake County can expect delays of up to 30 minutes on their commute between noon and 8 p.m. Meanwhile, I-15 in the Nephi area is expected to see up to 25-minute delays in the same time period. Peak delays are anticipated between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Eastbound US-6 will also see delays at the start of the long weekend, roughly 10 minutes between 2 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Returning home on Monday, May 26, could be the worst of the travel delay impacts, according to UDOT. Westbound US-6 could see delays of up to 55 minutes between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m., with peak travel delays happening between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Meanwhile, drivers on northbound I-15 on Memorial Day should anticipate up to 25-minute delays between noon and 9 p.m.

UDOT expects the area around Zion National Park, particularly from St. George and Cedar City, will also see 10-15 minute commute delays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. throughout the weekend, with peak travel delays happening around 11 a.m.

In anticipation of the heightened travel around Zion, UDOT said it was planning to expand its Roads to Recreation program. The program will provide updates on road, traffic and parking conditions and educational content for trip planning.

“The iconic landscapes in the Zion area draw tourism from all over the world,” UDOT Traveler Information Director Becky Parker said. “Our goal with this new extension of Roads to Rec is to provide everyone, from visitors to locals, with helpful information. Whether it’s a once-in-a lifetime visit or a weekly one, we want to give them the transportation information they need to enjoy their trip.”

UDOT will also be suspending several of its construction projects for the weekend to help reduce travel delays over the holiday weekend.