Thistle Junction construction begins in Spanish Fork Canyon

SPANISH FORK — Here's a heads up for drivers going through Spanish Fork Canyon. Construction on a new safety project started Friday morning and is expected to cause traffic delays for the next six months.

The Utah Department of Transportation is revamping Thistle Junction at U.S. 6 and the turnoff to U.S. 89. It's turning the intersection into a freeway-style underpass.

UDOT believes the project will significantly reduce serious crashes in this area, but the construction will have a significant impact on drivers.

UDOT put out a map online showing drivers what to expect. For 2 miles wrapped around Thistle Junction, traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction, every day, all day while crews work until it's completed. UDOT anticipates increased delays during peak travel periods, like the weekends, but expects delays to increase on holidays like Memorial Day weekend.

What drivers can expect:

• Eastbound U.S. 6: Expect up to 1.5 hours of additional delay on Friday, May 22, between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., with peak delays occurring between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
• Eastbound U.S. 6: Expect up to 30 minutes of additional delay on Saturday, May 23, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
• Westbound U.S. 6: Expect up to 1.5 hours of additional delay on Monday, May 25, between 10:30 a.m. and 10 p.m., with peak delays occurring between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Drivers are encouraged to travel during off-peak hours and consider using alternate routes, like I-70 and I-15.

This construction is scheduled to end Nov. 15, 2026.

Photos

Related topics

Utah transportationUtahUtah County

Brian Carlson

• 

Brian Carlson is a reporter for KSL.