News:

Thanks to everyone for the feedback on what errors you encountered at https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=33904.0
Corrected several already and appreciate your patience as we work through the rest.

Main Menu

Wyoming

Started by andy3175, November 21, 2014, 12:28:32 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

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

QuoteROCK 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.
Regards,
Andy

www.aaroads.com


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/

Quotethe 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.
Regards,
Andy

www.aaroads.com

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/

Quotehe 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.
Regards,
Andy

www.aaroads.com

andy3175

#153
Plans call for a large truck parking area in Evanston to accommodate the numerous trucks that are forced to wait there while Interstate 80 is closed for winter weather concerns. There has been some concerns about the need, Utah's role in stopping trucks from coming into Wyoming, and the location of the parking lot.  It is not clear from the article when this parking lot will be complete or its exact location in Evanston. My guess would be at the east end of town near the welcome center, but it could also be west of town near the port of entry.

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2023/12/21/mayor-evanston-needs-giant-semi-lot-because-utah-wont-close-i-80-during-storms/

QuotePlans by the Wyoming Department of Transportation to spend $33.3 million to build 365 new parking spaces... With Evanston located so close to the state border with Utah, Williams said the biggest problem the city faces is Utah's unwillingness to help mitigate congestion in Wyoming by closing I-80 on its side during severe winter storms.

"If Utah was willing to shut down I-80 on their end, that would be a huge help, but they have never been willing to shut it down," (Evanston Mayor Kent) Williams said. "So what happens is the trucks keep driving and they don't know that the road is closed up ahead. Then they are forced to get off in Evanston."

Utah Department of Transportation spokesperson Mitchell Shaw however, told Cowboy State Daily that state does not close its roads except for in extreme cases because it's their job to keep motorists moving.

"Our philosophy is to keep the roads open for the public to travel on," Shaw said. "We don't close our roads unless it is an unusual circumstance."

That doesn't help Evanston with more than 250 trucks crossing the state line into Wyoming every day, said Uinta County Commissioner Chairman Mark Anderson. The buildup of trucks within the city limits can get so bad it prevents locals from even being able to drive on the main streets. Trucks are parked everywhere – from side roads to turning lanes. That means those newcomers on the council who don't want Evanston to become a "parking lot" are off, because it already becomes that when I-80 closes.

"We know that our economy is funded in a large part by I-80 and the people who stop here to shop," Williams said. "That includes truckers. We don't want the truckers thinking that we don't want them here. We just need some relief during the winter. The truckers also don't like it. They don't like not having a place to park and being able to get food and showers when they need them."

Williams and Anderson both said WYDOT has been working with Evanston and Uinta County for years to find a solution to the traffic congestion. "We have been working on this issue with WYDOT for years," Anderson said. "They have been so good to include us in the conversations and to discuss our needs. The issue wasn't ever about not working with us, we had decided this a long time ago but there was a funding issue. So, when they announced the other day they had received that grant to put in the parking spaces, we were elated."

https://oilcity.news/community/wyoming-community-2/2023/12/13/wydot-awarded-federal-grant-for-hundreds-of-new-truck-parking-spaces-in-evanston/

QuoteThe Wyoming Department of Transportation has been awarded a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to build hundreds of new semitruck parking spaces in southwest Wyoming.

WYDOT will receive more than $26.6 million through the 2023–24 federal Rural Surface Transportation Grant, which will be used to build about 365 truck parking spaces along Interstate 80 in Evanston, WYDOT said in a news release.

"This is a crucial project for Wyoming. It's an investment in our road infrastructure that will help address pedestrian and vehicle safety hazards that occur when winter weather forces the closure of I-80," Gov. Mark Gordon said. "Importantly, it will alleviate the impacts to the community caused by hundreds of tractor trailers seeking somewhere safe to park."

Due to its proximity to the state border, Evanston can be inundated with commercial vehicles and other traffic during a long-duration closure of Interstate 80, which can strain local resources, street parking and other infrastructure.

"Truck parking continues to be one of the highest priorities for both truck drivers and motor carriers," said Sheila Foertsch, President and CEO of the Wyoming Trucking Association. "Safe, well lit, accessible parking makes the nation's highway system safer." ...

The Wyoming Association of General Contractors, Wyoming Trucking Association, City of Evanston, Uinta County and U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis also formally and publicly expressed their support for the project. Parking area construction is expected to begin in spring 2026 depending on design timing, project letting schedule and other potential scheduling considerations. The total project cost is approximately $33.3 million.
Regards,
Andy

www.aaroads.com

andy3175

Earlier this year, the 98-year old Winchester Bridge was sold by Washakie County to a rancher. It was transported 40 miles from Washakie County Road 86 at Cottonwood Creek to the Galloway Ranch after being sold for $1100.



https://cowboystatedaily.com/2023/06/04/wyoming-rancher-buys-giant-100-year-old-bridge-hauls-it-40-miles-to-ranch/

QuoteWashakie County drivers had to make way for a 25-foot-wide bridge the (last week of May 2023) that was on its way from Cottonwood Creek south of Worland to the Galloway Ranch north of Ten Sleep. The historic Winchester Bridge, which is nearly 100 years old, was recently sold to the ranch by Washakie County, and the 90-by-25-foot structure was hauled 40 miles to its new home north of Ten Sleep on Tuesday.

"They'll use it for moving livestock and moving vehicles back and forth," said Cody Beers with the Wyoming Department of Transportation.

The bridge was deemed unsafe for public travel in a recent WYDOT inspection, but rather than haul it off to the scrapyard, county commissioners chose to sell it to the highest bidder. ... Despite its bargain price, the county considered the sale a better option than either donating the bridge to the Washakie County Museum (which would have cost the county around $86,000, since the lead paint on it would need to be scraped off first) or taking it to a foundry to be disposed of, which would cost around $29,000. ... (T)he determination to replace the bridge in the southern part of Washakie County was part of the federal Bridge Replacement Off System designed to reduce the number of deficient bridges in the United States.

And Beers said the new bridge spanning Cottonwood Creek on Washakie County Road 86 is being built now. "The contractor has placed the corrugated steel stay-in-place concrete forms for the future bridge deck," said Beers. "Tying of bridge deck steel is still to happen, and concrete pours are scheduled in June." County Road 86 is closed to through traffic while CC&G Construction out of Lander completes the $1.75 million project, which (Uinta County Commission Chairman Mark) Anderson said would be paid primarily through federal funding.

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2023/06/07/100-year-old-80-000-pound-iron-bridge-finds-new-home-on-wyoming-ranch/

QuoteKeith and Laura Galloway were in the market for a bridge, an unusual item to be found on anyone's shopping list, but for the Galloways, it wasn't a wish list. They needed it. The couple, who with their sons own and operate Galloway Ranch 2 miles north of Ten Sleep in north-central Wyoming, needed a way to connect their land with their son's property across the river. "Our youngest boy, Ethan, has to go through town multiple times a day because he drives over here to work and back, and then we trail cows, and we have semis that are going through town all the time," Laura told Cowboy State Daily. "It's 5 miles around. But if we have a bridge, it's a quarter mile."

So they were pleasantly surprised when they saw Washakie County had advertised a 90-by-25-foot bridge for sale in the classified section of their local newspaper. The historic Winchester Bridge, which had been perched over Cottonwood Creek since 1925, had recently been decommissioned and county commissioners were looking for an inexpensive way to dispose of it. "The bridge was actually put up for bid in the newspaper, and we thought, 'Well, what the heck?'" said Laura. "The guys went and looked at it and said, 'Yeah, go for it.' It's plenty long, and it's wide enough to get all of our machinery, and big enough and strong enough to hold semitrucks loaded with hay or silage, and so we just put a bid in on it and happened to win the bid."

The Galloways contacted Swing Trucking, a transportation company out of Worland, to do the heavy lifting. "Swing Trucking does a lot of that stuff, and he's really good at it," said Laura, speaking of Danny Bertsch, whose grandfather started the company in 1949. The big rigs arrived at the Winchester Bridge's old location over Cottonwood Creek 13 miles south of Worland on May 30. "He went down and loaded it," she said. "It was him, and then they had, I think, two trucks and a crane, and then the three pilot cars that brought the whole train of stuff over here."

Bertsch told Cowboy State Daily the bridge weighs about 80,000 pounds, or roughly 40 tons. But he pointed out that his company is outfitted for those kinds of jobs.
Regards,
Andy

www.aaroads.com

andy3175

CY Avenue, which in part carries Wyoming Highway 220 into Casper, has an interesting past. This article provides some of the history of this road, which provides access into Casper from the south and southwest.

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2023/12/17/caspers-cy-avenue-began-as-a-cattle-trail-connecting-region-to-the-railroad/

QuoteLocals in this central Wyoming city know a newbie when he pronounces the name of one of its main thoroughfares as "Sigh" Avenue, even though it's spelled CY, both capitalized. It's just how it's presented on the street sign: C (see) Y (why) Avenue. A little less cut-and-dry is why is the road called CY Avenue.

Fort Caspar Museum Director Rick Young said the answer goes back to the cattle baron days and the CY Ranch owned by Wyoming's Joseph Carey family. The road was the CY Ranch stock trail that led to the railroad," he said. "That's how I understand it." Back in in the 1930s when Fort Caspar was undergoing perseveration efforts, the CY Ranch granted access to it "across their hayfield which is now 13th Street," Young said.

The CY Ranch was a big deal back when Wyoming became a territory. It was owned by Carey and two brothers who, historical accounts say, brought 12,000 head of cattle to the region from Texas after President Grant appointed Carey as U.S. attorney for the region. Tom Rea, editor of WyoHistory.org, said the CY Ranch was one of the major players in the region's cattle industry, covering vast swaths of land from Douglas to Casper and north to Johnson County. Rea said through homesteading and — more importantly — water rights, ranches such as the CY wielded a lot of power "and so controlled grazing across huge regions." ...

Local history buff Bob King has researched the origin of street designations and said the ranch headquarters was located close to where Linwood Place and Bellaire Drive come together near Cottonwood Elementary School on the west side of Casper. The cattle path from the headquarters left its mark. "It was just a trail, and when it hit 9th Street it just became 9th Street," he said. As for why it's called CY Avenue, King believes its for the first and last letters of the Carey name. The path that is now CY Avenue starts from the center of Casper at 9th Street and Ash and runs through the southwest side of the city becoming Highway 220 as it moves out toward Alcova.
Regards,
Andy

www.aaroads.com

andy3175

Wildlife crossings are becoming more common along U.S. 189 between Interstate 80 and Kemmerer. A federal grant will help fund a portion of the costs.

https://oilcity.news/wyoming/2023/12/17/wyoming-wildlife-crossing-success-nets-millions-for-new-project/


Pronghorn cross a highway near Pinedale using an overpass similar to one that will be built farther south near Kemmerer. (Mark Gocke/Wyoming Game and Fish Dept.)



QuoteWyoming's track record helped secure the largest federal grant in a new program that will see mule deer and pronghorn wildlife-crossings built along a 30-mile stretch of Highway 189 south of Kemmerer.

The $24.3 million federal grant to Wyoming was the largest made from the U.S. Department of Transportation's first tranche of $109 million for a novel Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program. Wyoming will use the money to fund the bulk of the $37 million construction project that will involve fencing 30 miles of the highway, building six or so new underpasses and a wildlife bridge for skittish antelope that won't go through a tunnel.

About 80 deer or antelope are killed in collisions along the stretch annually, state agencies calculate. The average big-game collision costs $11,600 in injury and property damage, Wyoming Game and Fish Department estimates. ...

Wyoming identified crossing locations using years of radio-collar data, Bruce said. Tunnels and wildlife overpasses are also placed with an eye toward whether they might alter natural behavior and what impact they might have on private property. Traffic analysts expect the highway between Interstate 80 and Kemmerer will become busier with the proposed construction of a nuclear plant in that town. Altogether the government received 67 applications from 34 states requesting $549 million from the program. Seventeen states received money for a total of 19 projects. WYDOT will contribute $4.2 million to the project and other state agencies will put in $8.8 million. Bids will be let in 2024 for what's expected to be two to three years of construction.
Regards,
Andy

www.aaroads.com

andy3175

A bridge replacement project over the Snake River near Jackson is underway in Teton County.

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2023/11/13/jacksons-iconic-swinging-bridge-will-be-ripped-out-to-make-way-for-new-span/



QuoteAn iconic single-lane bridge spanning the Snake River near Jackson, Wyoming, is being removed as has begun to build a new and improved bridge in the same spot within two years. Swinging Bridge Road, aka Teton County Road 22-10, has been closed since Oct. 23 in anticipation of the bridge's removal. That happens this week when contractor Reiman Corp. starts removing the timber deck running between the metal trusses.

Bob Hammond, resident engineer in Jackson for the Wyoming Department of Transportation, said the entire Swinging Bridge should be removed by early December. "The schedule for the construction of the new bridge will last until June 2025," he told Cowboy State Daily. "But with the new bridge going roughly in the same place, removing the old bridge is the first thing that has to happen."

The existing Swinging Bridge, a single-lane structure in place since 1960, has never swung. The name comes from an actual swinging bridge, the first to cross that section of the Snake River, built in 1938. When the Wilson River Bridge was replaced in 1959, three of its five trusses were moved and placed onto concrete pillars and opened as the new Swinging Bridge. The original Wilson River Bridge opened in 1915, making the metal trusses more than 108 years old.

Hammond said the bridge was still structurally safe, but due for an upgrade. That's why Teton County approached WYDOT about a replacement. "This is a recycled bridge that was repurposed," he said. "It's seen its useful lifecycle and probably a little bit beyond that."

Local history buffs don't need to be alarmed by the removal of Swinging Bridge. Hammond said the contractor will use crane platforms to remove its trusses intact and haul them to a nearby storage area. "(Teton) County will take possession of it from that point," he said. "They'll decide what to do with the bridge through their feasibility study."

Most of the money for the new Swinging Bridge comes from WYDOT's Bridge Replacement Off System (BROS) program. BROS allocates funds to replace or refurbish bridges owned by Wyoming cities, towns and counties located on roads that don't receive federal aid. "WYDOT helps counties replace bridges that are in need," said WYDOT District Public Relations Specialist Stephanie Harsha. "It's a county bridge, but WYDOT is overseeing the project."

Harsha said Teton County approached WYDOT because the single-lane Swinging Bridge was no longer suitable for the area's traffic and a growing number of homes on that side of the Snake River. But the current bridge has close so the new bridge can be built. Hammond said WYDOT will cover 90% of the $10.3 million project, with Teton County picking up the remaining 10%. Once finished, the county will be responsible for the bridge's maintenance and upkeep.

That means for about 18 months or so there won't be a way across the river at that point. The community on the far side of the Snake River is still accessible south of the bridge on Henry's Road, Teton County Road 22-45, which intersects U.S. Highway 26/89/189/191.

Hammond said the new bridge will have two lanes and a separate pedestrian pathway in addition to an improved design. The large concrete pillars supporting the Swinging Bridge trusses also will be removed.
Regards,
Andy

www.aaroads.com

andy3175

A roadway extension is proposed for Westwinds Road between Bar Nunn and the Natrona County International Airport with multiple possible routing options. This could provide an alternate route to the airport and U.S. 20-26 from Interstate 25 Exit 194, which was constructed as an interchange in the 2010s. Westwinds Road would bypass Casper to the north and avoid the congested area around Exit 189 (Junction U.S. 20-26 Bypass)

https://oilcity.news/government/2023/11/06/casper-invites-public-comment-on-westwinds-road-land-use-study/



QuoteThe Casper Area Metropolitan Planning Organization is seeking public input on the Westwinds Road Land Use and Extension Study, an infrastructure project that could impact transportation in the area. The preliminary design envisions the creation of a new road section connecting Westwinds Road in Bar Nunn to Six-Mile Road near the Natrona County International Airport. This proposed 5-mile road expansion presents two alternatives:

1. At-Grade Crossing: One option involves constructing the road with an at-grade crossing at a rail line.
2. Grade Separated: The second alternative proposes a grade-separated road, enhancing traffic flow and safety.

Whichever option is chosen, the road's construction will include a base capable of supporting heavy trucks, ensuring efficient transport for commercial purposes. Additionally, the road will feature wide shoulders, providing space for cyclists.
Regards,
Andy

www.aaroads.com

andy3175

Another location of heavy wildlife activity this past year was along Wyoming Highway 120 between Thermopolis and Cody via Meeteetse.

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2023/10/17/elk-massacre-when-pickup-plows-into-herd-near-meeteetse/







QuoteThe stretch of Wyoming Highway 120 near Meeteetse where an "elk massacre" happened when a pickup plowed into a herd is known to be treacherous for drivers and wild animals. "There ain't no one isolated spot (where animals cross the highway). It's kind of bad all through that entire area," Lyle Lamb, Wyoming Department of Transportation District 5 maintenance engineer, told Cowboy State Daily on Tuesday.

At least four elk were killed at about 7 a.m. Sunday on the Cody side of the Burlington Road intersection with Highway 120 when a heavy-duty Ram pickup plowed into a herd that was crossing the road, he said. There might have been as many as seven elk killed, but the truck's driver was uninjured, Lamb said. The pickup, which was either a ¾-ton or 1-ton model, was likely totaled. "There were at least four dead elk that I saw them drag off the road. I think Game and Fish might have had to euthanize some more that were injured," Lamb said. He added that he didn't know the exact details of the accident, but apparently the driver was in a situation where the collision was all but unavoidable. "He came around a corner where there were guardrails on both sides, and the elk were there — from guardrail to guardrail — so there has no chance of missing them," Lamb said.

There has been some talk of a wildlife crossing or crossings there, but for now it's not on the short list for such projects, he added. WYDOT, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and other agencies and cooperators have several new or ongoing wildlife crossing projects across Wyoming, Lamb said. Most recently, there was a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the $15 million Dry Piney Wildlife Crossing, a series of underpasses between La Barge and Big Piney (along U.S. Highway 189).
Regards,
Andy

www.aaroads.com

andy3175

This article is fun to share if for no other reason a good look at a 2019 edition Interstate 80 Wyoming shield with bags of marijuana in the background. I also can't imagine driving Wyoming's highways at 160 mph, but it seems it's been done before!

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2023/10/16/pair-in-stolen-charger-run-from-cops-at-160-mph-with-70-pounds-of-pot/



QuoteA Baltimore, Maryland, man has until January to argue that he didn't steal a Dodge Charger and rush 70 pounds of marijuana into Wyoming at more than 160 mph. 

Brian Battick, 21, is set for a Jan. 11 preliminary hearing in Evanston Circuit Court, where he can argue that authorities didn't have probable cause to arrest him when they chased him into Wyoming from Utah on Interstate 80 earlier this month. Meanwhile, Battick's co-defendant Vernon Laws, who is 20 this year, waived his preliminary hearing Friday and is being prosecuted in the felony-level Uinta County District Court. 

It started as a high-speed chase in Utah. At 10:13 p.m. Oct. 5, Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper Kyle Coudriet learned from dispatch that Summit County, Utah, authorities had lost sight of a red Dodge Charger on I-80, heading east into Wyoming. 

Coudriet sat in the median with his rear-facing radar activated. By 10:38 p.m., a red Dodge Charger hurtled past at 87 mph, according to Coudriet's evidentiary affidavit filed in the case. Coudriet tried to make a traffic stop, but the Charger shot forward, swerving all over the road and bumbling through sharp curves between other vehicles, says the affidavit. Uinta County Sheriff's deputies laid spike strips at mile marker 18. The Charger crossed over them and its front passenger tire deflated. 

The Wyoming Highway Patrol would later report that the Charger exceeded 160 mph (mph on all references) during the chase. 

When deputies caught up to the vehicle after 11 p.m., it had crashed into a ditch about five mile markers from its second spike strip, says the affidavit. After the crash, Battick and Laws fled on foot. The affidavit says the agents ran down one of the men, whom they identified by his Maryland driver's license as Laws. But the second suspect got away. 

One of the troopers found a driver's license left behind in the Charger belonging to Battick. Laws confirmed that Battick was the other person in the Charger, according to the affidavit. Coudriet and another trooper followed it there and searched it, where they found the driver's seat belt was still buckled. A small white plastic bag with a green, plant-like substance sat in front of the passenger seat, says the affidavit. 

They popped the trunk, and there they found 59 clear, vacuum-sealed bags and two cold cans containing 68.8 pounds of what later tested positive as marijuana, the affidavit claims.

Regards,
Andy

www.aaroads.com

zzcarp

Quote from: andy3175 on December 23, 2023, 11:55:09 PM
This article is fun to share if for no other reason a good look at a 2019 edition Interstate 80 Wyoming shield with bags of marijuana in the background. I also can't imagine driving Wyoming's highways at 160 mph, but it seems it's been done before!

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2023/10/16/pair-in-stolen-charger-run-from-cops-at-160-mph-with-70-pounds-of-pot/



QuoteA Baltimore, Maryland, man has until January to argue that he didn't steal a Dodge Charger and rush 70 pounds of marijuana into Wyoming at more than 160 mph. 

Brian Battick, 21, is set for a Jan. 11 preliminary hearing in Evanston Circuit Court, where he can argue that authorities didn't have probable cause to arrest him when they chased him into Wyoming from Utah on Interstate 80 earlier this month. Meanwhile, Battick's co-defendant Vernon Laws, who is 20 this year, waived his preliminary hearing Friday and is being prosecuted in the felony-level Uinta County District Court. 

It started as a high-speed chase in Utah. At 10:13 p.m. Oct. 5, Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper Kyle Coudriet learned from dispatch that Summit County, Utah, authorities had lost sight of a red Dodge Charger on I-80, heading east into Wyoming. 

Coudriet sat in the median with his rear-facing radar activated. By 10:38 p.m., a red Dodge Charger hurtled past at 87 mph, according to Coudriet's evidentiary affidavit filed in the case. Coudriet tried to make a traffic stop, but the Charger shot forward, swerving all over the road and bumbling through sharp curves between other vehicles, says the affidavit. Uinta County Sheriff's deputies laid spike strips at mile marker 18. The Charger crossed over them and its front passenger tire deflated. 

The Wyoming Highway Patrol would later report that the Charger exceeded 160 mph (mph on all references) during the chase. 

When deputies caught up to the vehicle after 11 p.m., it had crashed into a ditch about five mile markers from its second spike strip, says the affidavit. After the crash, Battick and Laws fled on foot. The affidavit says the agents ran down one of the men, whom they identified by his Maryland driver's license as Laws. But the second suspect got away. 

One of the troopers found a driver's license left behind in the Charger belonging to Battick. Laws confirmed that Battick was the other person in the Charger, according to the affidavit. Coudriet and another trooper followed it there and searched it, where they found the driver's seat belt was still buckled. A small white plastic bag with a green, plant-like substance sat in front of the passenger seat, says the affidavit. 

They popped the trunk, and there they found 59 clear, vacuum-sealed bags and two cold cans containing 68.8 pounds of what later tested positive as marijuana, the affidavit claims.

The dumb thing is this haul would be perfectly legal about 100 miles away as the crow flies.
So many miles and so many roads

CtrlAltDel

Quote from: andy3175 on December 23, 2023, 10:44:17 PM
Earlier this year, the 98-year old Winchester Bridge was sold by Washakie County to a rancher. It was transported 40 miles from Washakie County Road 86 at Cottonwood Creek to the Galloway Ranch after being sold for $1100.

I think this is it.
Interstates clinched: 4, 57, 275 (IN-KY-OH), 465 (IN), 640 (TN), 985
State Interstates clinched: I-26 (TN), I-75 (GA), I-75 (KY), I-75 (TN), I-81 (WV), I-95 (NH)

andy3175

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2023/09/16/bill-sniffin-wyomings-love-hate-relationship-with-interstate-80/



Columnist Bill Sniffin asks whether Interstate 80 is the Highway to Heaven or the Highway to Hell:

QuoteA famous photo (on social media) shows part of the hilly part of the highway known as the Three Sisters between Bridger Valley and Evanston that makes it appear the highway descends into a deep valley, then ascends into the clouds on the other side. Indeed, this could be a Highway to Heaven.

But then there is that bit of lore that's dubbed it the Snow Chi Minh Trail. During Wyoming's wintry season, there are areas of this highway that are very dangerous. Dozens of unlucky people have died in crashes on these stretches during the horrific snow, rain, ice, fog, wind and ground blizzards that happen over nine months of the year. John Waggener's excellent book explains how this happens.

On a recent trip, I was thinking about these facts about this old road and how it has affected me and my family since we started driving it 53 years ago exactly now.  ... Over the past more than half century, we estimate we have made that 840-mile one-way trip from Lander to Harlan (Iowa) 120 times.

Back in the early 1970s, we drove this trip in an old Ford two-door sedan with rear-wheel drive. Now that was tricky during icy conditions. We built a wooden platform to fit over the back seat so our three young daughters could play back there. No concern about seat belts back then. We also almost always drove at night so the kids could sleep.

I used to imagine huge mountain ranges off in the distance at night as a way to slog through the miles and miles. We usually had three full thermos jugs full of hot coffee. There were very few convenience stores or truck stops back in those days. On our first trips on this road, there was construction — and on our most recent trip there was construction. Our four Wyoming seasons are Almost Winter, Winter, Still Winter and Construction. ...

I am always complaining about the 12,000 to 16,000 semitrailer trucks on Interstate 80. Even if 99% are courteous and safe, that other 1% means 120-150 monsters making stupid decisions that risk the lives of all of us. They average 16 tons in cargo (32,000 pounds) and barrel down the road as fast as they can go.

Surely this interstate is the busiest in the USA, right? Nope. That title goes to Interstate 90, which is a mess in the northeastern USA. But Interstate 80 comes in second. The odd thing to me about this stat is that Interstate 90, which runs from Seattle to Boston, is very benign compared to I-80 when it crosses Wyoming from Sheridan to Moorcroft.

Interstate 90 is the longest interstate highway in the USA with our Interstate 80 coming in second, with a 402-mile stretch crossing the Cowboy State. Yes, Interstate 80 is an amazing road, but it also can be a god-awful long drive.
Regards,
Andy

www.aaroads.com

SD Mapman

Quote from: andy3175 on December 24, 2023, 01:04:21 AM
Quote
Surely this interstate is the busiest in the USA, right? Nope. That title goes to Interstate 90, which is a mess in the northeastern USA. But Interstate 80 comes in second. The odd thing to me about this stat is that Interstate 90, which runs from Seattle to Boston, is very benign compared to I-80 when it crosses Wyoming from Sheridan to Moorcroft.

You have I-94 to thank for that, most of the trucks take that from Billings to Tomah instead of I-90. Makes I-90 west of Spearfish nice and quiet.
The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see. - G.K. Chesterton

brad2971

Quote from: SD Mapman on December 24, 2023, 07:04:04 PM
Quote from: andy3175 on December 24, 2023, 01:04:21 AM
Quote
Surely this interstate is the busiest in the USA, right? Nope. That title goes to Interstate 90, which is a mess in the northeastern USA. But Interstate 80 comes in second. The odd thing to me about this stat is that Interstate 90, which runs from Seattle to Boston, is very benign compared to I-80 when it crosses Wyoming from Sheridan to Moorcroft.

You have I-94 to thank for that, most of the trucks take that from Billings to Tomah instead of I-90. Makes I-90 west of Spearfish nice and quiet.

And if you wanted to bypass the Twin Cities altogether on a semi truck, you can use US 212 and SD 34 in lieu of I-90 in Wyoming: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Billings,+Montana/Rapid+City,+South+Dakota/@44.6670869,-107.2810986,6z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x53486f8888fa9d97:0x373556d4f179b550!2m2!1d-108.5006904!2d45.7832856!1m5!1m1!1s0x877d42a59ebba5fb:0xc471615a3e93b7c7!2m2!1d-103.2310149!2d44.0805434!3e0?entry=ttu

andy3175

Columnist Bill Sniffin writes about U.S. 20 and its route through Wyoming. He gives a nice shout out to Bryan Farr, efforts to market the U.S. 20 national corridor, and Bryan's Historic U.S. Route 20 Association webpage, which is available at https://www.historicus20.com/index.html. Bryan's U.S. 20 book is good; I bought at copy at the Wyoming State Fair several years ago.

The article states the Historic U.S. Route 20 effort began in Ohio, but I thought it began in New York.

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2024/02/10/bill-sniffin-who-knew-longest-highway-in-america-enters-wyoming-at-lusk-and-exits-at-yellowstone/

QuoteI was cursing the "longest highway in America" Thursday as I dealt with fog, crazy winds, snowpack, and ground blizzards crossing central Wyoming on U. S. Highway 20.

It was during a 2019 road trip through nine states, when I stumbled on to the interesting factoid that the longest highway in America bisects Wyoming.

It is Historic US 20, which is 3,365 miles in length. We drove on that road a lot during that trip and it was well worth it. ...

This highway enters the state east of Lusk on a truly marginal stretch of highway and continues to Orin Junction where it joins I-25 and then heads north to Douglas and Glenrock. It continues to Casper and then heads west to Shoshoni.

My late father always complained that long stretch from Casper to Shoshoni, was "96 miles of nuthin." Both local rancher Lois Herbst and Wyoming historian Phil Roberts took great umbrage at that description and I stand corrected. But that truly was what my late father used to say about that endless stretch.

From Shoshoni the highway heads north next to Boysen Reservoir and through glorious Wind River Canyon to Thermopolis. It continues to Worland, Basin, and Greybull before turning west to Cody and Wapiti Valley where it enters Yellowstone at the east gate. Along the way Historic US 20 picks up and joins U. S. highways 14 and 18 at times, before exiting the state.

Here is a map of the entire U.S. 20 corridor from Bryan Farr's webpage: https://historicroute20.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/VistaPrint_Map.png

Of course, another great resource on U.S. 20 is Dale Sanderson's fantastic U.S. Highway Ends page. See https://www.usends.com/20e.html for more information.

Regards,
Andy

www.aaroads.com

andy3175

Additional measures are underway to reduce vehicle-wildlife conflicts along Interstate 25 between Kaycee and Buffalo.

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2024/01/30/wyomings-second-deadliest-stretch-of-highway-for-deer-gets-wildlife-crossing/

QuoteA section of Interstate 25 between Kaycee and Buffalo had the unfortunate distinction of being Wyoming's second-deadliest stretch of highway for mule deer, but a new wildlife crossing there will spare hundreds of animals a year, a wildlife conservationist said.

As many as 40 deer a month were being struck and killed along that stretch of I-25. But a wildlife crossing, which uses fencing to funnel animals toward safe underpasses, is about 60% complete and could be finished by this summer.

Mule deer, foxes and other critters are already using the underpasses, making a significant dent in the roadkill toll on that stretch of interstate, said Chris McBarnes, president of the WYldlife Fund. ...

The WYllife Fund was also instrumental in raising money for the recently-completed Dry Piney wildlife crossing project along what was Wyoming's deadliest stretch of road for deer on Highway 189 between La Barge and Big Piney.

I-25 between Kaycee and Buffalo cuts through prime habitat for the Powder River and Pumpkin Buttes mule deer herds. Deer cross the highway daily as they move back and forth between feeding, watering and bedding areas. ...

The WYldlife Fund launched fundraising efforts for the $4.4 million project in 2020, after the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission prioritized the Kaycee-to-Buffalo wildlife crossing.

Roughly $350,000 was raised from private donors to supplement government grants and other money.

Donations came from numerous Wyoming businesses as well as "just people on the streets of Buffalo writing checks for $100 or $500," McBarnes said.

King Enterprises of Mills, Wyoming, started work last fall, with the bulk of the project involving building 36 miles of wildlife fencing, or 18 miles on each side of the highway.

More than 10,000 wooden fence posts were used, McBarnes said.

"And another interesting fact is that 168,000 'hog rings,' which attach the fencing to the post, are being used – and they all have to be installed by hand," he added. ...

Fresh off fundraising for the Dry Piney and Kaycee wildlife crossings, the WYldlife fund is looking ahead to Wyoming's next big crossing projects.

The top priorities include the Halleck Ridge crossing on Interstate 80 near Elk Mountain, where the highway cuts across major mule deer migration routes.

There's also a series of wildlife overpasses and underpasses planned along U.S. Highway 26 between Crowheart and Dubois. Bighorn sheep, mule deer and other wildlife frequently cross the highway there, McBarnes said.
Regards,
Andy

www.aaroads.com



Opinions expressed here on belong solely to the poster and do not represent or reflect the opinions or beliefs of AARoads, its creators and/or associates.