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[andy3175]

According to this article, GPS did not do some drivers many favors when it supposedly routed some drivers onto dirt roads during winter driving conditions when Interstate 80 was closed across the Red Desert (between Rock Springs and Rawlins):

https://oilcity.news/community/weather/2023/01/16/gps-strands-over-a-dozen-vehicles-seeking-alternate-route-on-red-desert-tundra

ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. — Amidst an “onslaught” of calls for crashes and stranded motorists during a road-closing winter storm last December, the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office noticed a theme: Travelers were being led to no-man’s-land by GPS.

Over a dozen vehicles ended up stranded on Bar X Road in blizzard-like conditions on Dec. 13, SCSO Deputy Jason Mower told Oil City News. Some had been unable to call for help and were only found while rescuers were on the way to someone else.

Most of the motorists were new to the area or from out of town; all had been directed onto the seasonally unmaintained county road by GPS navigation systems that suggested it as an alternate route after Interstate 80 was closed due to winter conditions.

[andy3175]

WyDOT and the City of Casper are considering ways to address the "skewed" intersection between WYO 220 CY Avenue and Poplar Avenue. "Skewed" intersections appear to be those intersections where the intersecting roads do not meet at right angles. WY 220 approaches this intersection from the southwest.

https://oilcity.news/community/city/2023/01/24/state-engineer-talks-ways-to-reduce-crashes-at-skewed-cy-poplar-intersection-with-casper-city-council/

the Casper City Council heard a presentation from Wyoming Department of Transportation staff about safety at the intersection of CY Avenue and Poplar Street. CY Avenue is part of Wyoming Highway 220 and is therefore part of WYDOT’s jurisdiction.

Over the past six years, the intersection has seen a total of 104 crashes, eight of which resulted in injury, State Traffic Engineer Joel Meena told the City Council during the work session at Casper City Hall.

The total number of crashes at CY and Poplar is more than at comparable intersections in Casper, though Meena noted that there have been no fatalities reported among the crashes at that intersection in the past six years. WYDOT reviewed those six years of data after Casper Mayor Bruce Knell reached out to the agency a few months ago expressing concerns about the intersection.

First and Poplar has seen 70 total crashes in the past six years, including one fatal crash and 13 with injuries. CY Avenue and Poplar has seen 82 total crashes, including 27 with injuries. None of the crashes were fatal.

The fact that CY and Poplar is a skewed intersection where the streets don’t cross at a 90-degree angle is likely a major factor in the number of crashes seen at the intersection, Meena told the City Council.

WYDOT conducted a significant reconstruction effort at CY and Poplar in 2015, according to a memo from city staff. The agency is planning some further steps in hopes to further reduce crashes, Meena said Tuesday.

Possibilities include adding striping, particularly “skip dash” striping to demarcate dual left lanes at the intersection. The signals along the Wyoming Highway 220 corridor will also be recounted and retimed in summer 2023.

Meena added that something the city could consider is extending the southbound outside through lane to give people more time to merge when Poplar narrows to become a single lane heading toward Casper Mountain.

[andy3175]

In January, WyDOT held a public meeting to discuss bridge improvements to Interstate 25 (and US 20-26-87) where it crosses the North Platte River.

https://oilcity.news/community/2023/01/24/wydot-hosting-i-25-casper-marginal-bridge-reconstruction-project-public-open-house-jan-26/

he Wyoming Department of Transportation will host a public open house from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26 at the WYDOT Casper office, 900 Bryan Stock Trail, to discuss an upcoming project replacing four Interstate 25 bridges and the F Street bridge over the North Platte River.

The project is set to begin this construction season and will replace the aging structures, three over the North Platte River and two over Center Street. The project includes new road surfacing between the interstate structures along with landscaping, lighting and intersection upgrades, a news release states.

The project covers 0.97 miles and is expected to take two years to complete. WYDOT has programmed $50 million for the project; however, a true cost won’t be known until the project has been let to contract.

This construction project is the third phase of four phases rehabilitating I-25 through Casper. Once this phase is completed, the final phase will tie all of the previous work together with new pavement between the Walsh Drive bridge and Center Street as well as the addition of weave lanes between Bryan Stock Trail and Center Street.