SALT LAKE CITY -- Northern Utah's cycles of wintertime freezing and thawing, followed by the recent hot weather, has caused several instances of concrete buckling along the Wasatch Front.
"Over a winter, we can have several - we can have dozens of freeze/thaw cycles. But concrete really is still the best pavement material that we have available to us," said Lisa Miller, Traveler Information Manager at UDOT. "However, the seals, from time to time, will wear down, especially when we have a lot of truck traffic on our roads. And then, small pieces of debris - dust and rocks and pebbles - can get between the joints and it breaks that seal down."
Over the last week, Utah Department of Transportation crews have repaired several sections where the concrete buckled, including some in heavily trafficked areas of I-84 and I-15.
Officials urge drivers who encounter new instances of road buckling to call 911 so Utah Highway Patrol troopers can safely isolate the affected area, redirect traffic and give time for UDOT to make repairs.
