Driving from Provo, UT to Salt Lake City on Interstate 15

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• published: 07 Sep 2016
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As the freeway enters Utah County, it also enters Utah Valley, the Wasatch Front, and the Provo-Orem metropolitan area. Turning northeast, it enters the town of Santaquin, where US-6 begins its overlap with I-15 at the interchange with East Main Street/US-6/SR-198. Exiting Santaquin, the interstate turns north to pass by the western edge of Spring Lake before entering Payson, turning north east, and reaching the 800 South (SR-178) interchange. (Although not yet complete, construction began in late the spring of 2013 to add an additional lane of travel on both sides of I-15 from this interchange north to Spanish Fork.) Continuing northeast, the freeway reaches the interchange with North Main Street (SR-115/3200 West) in north Payson. Maintaining its course to the northeast it passes the eastern edge of Benjamin, with an interchange with SR-168 (8000 South), and enters Spanish Fork and gains one lane in each direction (the first time the interstate widens in the state). On the north side of Spanish Fork is an interchange with North Main Street (US-6 and SR-156), after which I-15 turns north and gains one more lane in each direction. This interchange also marks the northern end of the overlap with US-6. (The section between Spanish Fork and Lehi was rebuilt in 2010-12 as part of the I-15 CORE project.) View north along I-15 at the southern junction with I-80 and SR-201 in Salt Lake County Continuing north with four lanes, it gains an additional Express Lane in both directions. It then passes through the far west side of Springville, with interchanges at 400 South (SR-77) and 1400 North (SR-75). Off the 1400 North interchange is an official rest stop courtesy of UDOT and Flying J. Curving northwest it passes the eastern edge of the Provo Bay of Utah Lake before reaching Provo. Upon entering Provo, it intersects with South University Avenue (the southern terminus of US-189). The interstate then continues northwest, bisecting the west side of Provo, with an interchange with Center Street (SR-114) before leaving Provo and entering Orem. After an interchange with West University Parkway (SR-265), immediately southwest of Utah Valley University, the freeway heads north along the western side of Orem. After interchanges with Center Street, and then 800 North (SR-52) the interstate curves northwest and immediately reaches the interchange with SR-241 (1600 North/600 South). This interchange on the border of Orem and Lindon. Continuing northwest I-15 passes through the western side of Lindon before passing by the southwest edge of Pleasant Grove, with an interchange at Pleasant Grove Boulevard. Next the freeway enters American Fork with interchanges with at 500 East (SR-180) on the south end of town and West Main Street/Pioneer Crossing (SR-145) on the west end of town. After American Fork, the freeway enters Lehi with it first interchange at East Main Street (SR-73). At this point the interstate narrows to just three lanes (plus an Express Lane) in each direction (however, UDOT anticipates beginning construction on additional lanes in this area in the spring of 2014). The next interchange in Lehi is with 2100 North/1200 West (US-89/SR-85). This also begins the first of two I-15/US-89 overlaps. The final interchange in Lehi with Timpanogos Highway/Clubhouse Drive (SR-92), which is just east of Thanksgiving Point. Past Lehi, the interstate exits the Provo metropolitan area and Utah County to enter the Salt Lake City metropolitan area as it passes through the Point of the Mountain. I-15 in Salt Lake City As the route enters the Salt Lake Valley from only one of three other points connecting Salt Lake County and Utah County (the others being SR-68 and Traverse Ridge Road), it turns northeast to pass by the eastern edge of Bluffdale. It then enters Draper and heads north to pass through the western part of that city, with four interchanges along the way. The first is with Highland Drive/14600 South (SR-140). The next interchange is with Bangerter Highway (SR-154), after which the freeway widens to a total of four lanes (plus an Express Lane) in each direction. The third interchange in Draper is with 12300 South (US-89/SR-71). This interchange is also where US-89 ends its first overlap with the interstate and where I-15 curves slightly to the west. The final interchange in town is on the northern city limits at 11400 South (SR-175). This interchange is on the southern border of Sandy, and is the first of three within that city. The next interchange is with 10600 South (SR-151), after which the interstate gains an additional lane in each direction. The final interchange in Sandy is with 9000 South (SR-209).