Drivers traveling through Provo Canyon at night should plan for delays as a major construction operation begins this week on U.S. Highway 189 near Deer Creek Reservoir. The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) announced that the roadway will be reduced to a single alternating lane overnight starting Monday, with traffic impacts expected to last through early November.
The lane restrictions will be in place weeknights from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and weekends from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m., between Rainbow Bay Day Use Area and 3600 South. To maintain vehicle flow, “Flaggers will guide drivers through the moving work zone. Vehicles over 11 feet in width will be restricted from using US-189,” UDOT said in its press release.
In some cases, crews will completely stop traffic. UDOT confirmed that the highway may be fully closed for up to 15 minutes at a time as workers install temporary barriers and begin rockfall mitigation along canyon walls.
Project Manager Craig Hancock emphasized that the short-term inconvenience will result in lasting benefits for commuters and recreation travelers alike.
“This project is about making Provo Canyon safer and more reliable year-round,” Hancock said. “US-189 is a vital connection for both daily travel and recreation. Thousands of people use this route to reach work, the mountains, or the reservoir, and these improvements will help them get where they’re going more safely and with fewer delays.”
This stretch of U.S. 189 is currently the last remaining segment with only a single lane in each direction, making it a known congestion point during peak traffic hours and holiday weekends.
In addition to widening the roadway, crews will:
UDOT is advising nighttime travelers, truckers, and weekend recreationists to allow extra time and check traffic updates before heading toward the reservoir or Heber Valley.
The agency has not announced whether additional daytime work will be scheduled later in the season, but officials say closures will remain night-only for now to minimize peak-hour disruption.
Originally reported by KSL TV.
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