Not everyone understands how to harness the power of TikTok, but the Utah Department of Transportation sure does.
UDOT announced that I-80 will close this weekend as crews replace a bridge in Salt Lake City with a TikTok video, and it has gone viral, with more than 1.3 million views.
What makes this video so popular? A beloved cartoon character that's over 20 years old. The video adopts the "Shrek in the Sky" trend, where a "Shrek" character rises in the background dancing to a viral remix of the songs "Macarena" and "Material Girl."
Carlos Braceras, UDOT's executive director, told KSLTV: "I asked our team to get the word out about a closure on I-80 between 700 East and Foothill Drive this weekend. This really isn't what I had in mind, but it seems to be working!"
The closure begins at 9 p.m. and will last through 1 p.m. on Sunday. The old bridge will be demolished and the new 1700 East bridge, which was constructed next to the old bridge, will slide into place.
According to the KSLTV report, UDOT stated: "This innovative method of bridge construction, pioneered in Utah, reduces delays and traffic restrictions for drivers. The bridge was originally built in the 1960s and is due for replacement. The new bridge will provide a smoother ride for drivers and will enhance safety for cyclists and pedestrians, with a new 14-foot-wide path on the west side along with a new sidewalk and bike lane on the east side."
This type of bridge construction will likely be used in other states, but will other DOTs follow UDOT's example by using TikTok? Only time will tell.
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Source: KSLTV News
