Interstate 180

Interstate 180

Interstate 180 runs north along Central Avenue from I-80 at Exit 362 to Business Loop I-80/U.S. 30 (Lincolnway) in Downtown Cheyenne via the Union Pacific viaduct. The route is approximately a mile long, and its most prominent feature is the sweeping pair of viaducts that cross over the Union Pacific Railroad yard. Interstate 180 is also notable for not being a freeway (it has traffic lights along its mainline) and for being signed along with Business Loop I-25, U.S. 85, and Business U.S. 87. it is the only known instance where an Interstate highway, Business Interstate highway, U.S. route, and Business U.S. route are all signed together on one road.

A Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYODOT) publication from the late 1990s indicated that I-180 was the "shortest Interstate highway," but I-878 in New York is the actual shortest.

Exits on Interstate 180 in Wyoming

There are no exits along this Interstate Highway since Interstate 180 is not a freeway. In fact, it is one of a few Interstate highways that has traffic signals on the mainline route. Other Interstate Highways with traffic signals on some portion of the mainline route include:

I-180 is unique in that it is not freeway grade or "Interstate standard" at all for its entire length, excepting perhaps the twin viaducts over the Union Pacific Railroad. It has no interchanges except the diamond interchange at Interstate 80. As you drive north from Interstate 80, you hit four at-grade stoplights that are "exits" from Interstate 180.

Exit Number Route Number or Name and Destination Description
Exits 0A-B Interstate 80
EAST Omaha
WEST Laramie
The Interstate 80 junction with Interstate 180 is simply a diamond interchange with stoplights at the base. There is no "freeway-to-freeway connection" normally associated with an dual Interstate highway junction.
Exit 0C Fifth Street (Campstool Road) This "exit" is the third stoplight heading northbound. Between the Fifth and Ninth Street stoplights there is a pedestrian overcrossing.
Exit 0D Ninth Street The fourth stoplight is at the southern base of the Union-Pacific viaduct.
Exit 1 Business Loop I-80/U.S. 30
Lincolnway (Sixteenth Street)
EAST: Pine Bluffs
WEST: Laramie
Interstate 180 ends at this fifth and final stoplight. There are no signs that indicate its northern end. Reassurance signs north of Lincolnway along Central Avenue only indicate Business Loop I-25, U.S. 85, and Business U.S. 87.

History

After six-and-a-half years of construction, Interstate 180 in Cheyenne was opened in its entirety during a grand opening ceremony conducted June 1, 1984. Partial openings occurred in 1979 and 1982.

Between 1977 and 1984, the Wyoming Highway Department (today known as the Wyoming Department of Transportation) embarked on a $21 million project to upgrade old U.S. 85 between Interstate 80 and U.S. 30 (Lincolnway) in Cheyenne.

Much of the money for the Interstate 180 project came from federal sources, which is partially why Interstate 180 is part of the Interstate highway system. The other reason is a "loophole" in the rules: the federal government provided Wyoming the Interstate mileage without requiring the state to meet the "Interstate standards" normally required of all roads carrying the Interstate shield.

Wyoming transportation officials and FHWA initially planned Interstate 180 to be up to Interstate standards until the early 1970s. However, the plans were modified to make Interstate 180 an at-grade expressway so residents on the south side of Cheyenne could more easily cross the Union Pacific Railroad into downtown Cheyenne and to cut costs. Since the Wyoming Highway Department (now WyoDOT) and FHWA had already spent federal funds on the design of Interstate 180, it was allowed to keep its Interstate designation despite the sub-Interstate standard design of the highway.

The chronology of the U.S. 85 upgrade into Interstate 180 follows. Much of the early history is provided by Bruce Burrows, WyoDOT Public Affairs Officer:

Union Pacific Railroad Bridges

The twin Interstate 180 bridges over the Union Pacific Railroad yards are two lanes in each direction, with a partial climb lane over the southbound bridge. To protect it against ice and snow, the bridges have a geothermal heating system with 14 miles of pipe located in and underneath the northside approaches. An ammonia vaporization process provides the heat to reduce ice and snow on the northside. The heating system is necessary because the warming rays of the sun do not reach the back side of the viaduct in the winter.

The support pillars for the bridge range from 19 to 41 feet tall and 53 feet wide at the top, with steel girders weighing as much as 30 tons each. A Union Pacific control tower stands like a sentinel between the bridges; the tower is still used by railroad personnel today.

One Road, Four Different Signed Route Designations

Interstate 180 is co-signed with Business Loop I-25, U.S. 85, and Business U.S. 87. This is the only place where an interstate, business loop, U.S. route, and business U.S. route are joined together. It is reminiscent of Van Buren Street in Phoenix, Arizona, which used to be Business Loop Interstate 10, U.S. 60-70-80-89, and Arizona 93. At least Central Avenue (Interstate 180, Business Loop I-25, U.S. 85, and Business U.S. 87) only carries four routes. In the 2010s, newer signage appears to have deemphasized Business U.S. 87, but it is still signed on reassurance route markers.

The exit signs for Interstate 180 on mainline Interstate 80 only show Interstate 180 and U.S. 85, Central Avenue and Greeley as a control city for south U.S. 85. Like many states, Wyoming does not sign business loops on exit signs unless it is the beginning or end of the business loop.

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Page Updated Sunday September 14, 2014.