Drivers and residents along 500 East between 3900 South and 4500 South are dealing with lane shifts and flagger-controlled traffic after Millcreek began a microsurfacing project on the roughly six-block corridor Monday, July 27.

The work zone runs past James E. Moss Elementary School and connects two of the city's busiest east-west commercial corridors. During construction, traffic will shift intermittently and access will be limited from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, according to a city notice posted July 23.

Flaggers direct traffic through work zones.

One restriction will outlast the project itself: parking on 500 East will be prohibited both during and after construction, the city of Millcreek said in its notice. The announcement did not specify whether the permanent ban applies to the full stretch from 3900 South to 4500 South or only portions of it.

Microsurfacing is a pavement-preservation technique in which a thin, polymer-modified slurry is applied over existing asphalt to seal the surface, extend road life, and resist water damage at a fraction of the cost of full reconstruction. The treatment is suited for higher-traffic roads.

The 500 East project comes after Millcreek held multiple public open houses in spring 2026 under the banner "The Road Ahead: Paving for a Smoother Future." Those sessions addressed road conditions citywide, funding options, and a proposed Transportation Utility Fee. The city has not confirmed whether the TUF or another funding source is paying for the 500 East work.

The city's notice gave residents four days of advance warning before construction began. Millcreek has not announced a completion date, a total project cost, or the name of the contractor performing the work.

Residents along the corridor should plan for daily disruptions between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. until the project wraps. Millcreek has not announced when that will be.