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I-80 Winter Freight Project
I-80 Winter Freight Project Continues
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RAWLINS, Wyo. — Work is resuming on the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s Interstate 80 Winter Freight project between Rawlins and Laramie.
Simon Contractors has already started work building almost 100 new semitruck parking spaces in both the Fort Steele Rest Area (mile marker 228) east of Rawlins and the Quealy Dome truck parking area (mile marker 290) west of Laramie for a total of almost 200 new parking spaces.
“This additional truck parking is much-needed,” said District 1 Construction Engineer Wes Bybee. “The additional parking areas can help reduce the number of fall-asleep crashes, reduce crashes and operating costs for trucks searching for parking, and offer truck drivers an alternative place to park and wait out poor weather conditions."
The Fort Steele Rest Area, including parking areas, will remain closed during construction. Flaggers may be present to direct local traffic through the area. Please avoid parking on the on- and off-ramps in the Fort Steele interchange as it will likely impede work at the rest area. Once the project is complete, the rest area will reopen.
Traffic on I-80 will start seeing impacts Monday as crews start structure work and begin building climbing lanes on I-80. Work will impact the eastbound lanes over Halleck Ridge (mile markers 250.5-252.5) west of Elk Mountain and in the westbound lanes between Quealy Dome and Cooper Cove (mile markers 281.5-279.5) near the Albany/Carbon County line.
Watch for lane closures, reduced speed limits and other traffic changes during construction. Avoid distractions like cell phones when driving through work zones.
First started last fall, the $20 million project is funded by a federal Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant and is expected to be complete in October 2022.
Project scheduling is subject to change, including due to inclement weather and material or equipment availability.
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Construction begins on I-80 Winter Freight Project
20 October 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Multi-year project to bring more truck parking to I-80 begins this week
RAWLINS, Wyo. — The Wyoming Department of Transportation is working to bring additional winter semitruck parking and other safety improvements to Interstate 80, with a major project scheduled to begin this week.
WYDOT’s I-80 Winter Freight project will bring nearly 100 new semitruck parking spaces to both the Fort Steele Rest Area about 7 miles east of Sinclair (mile marker 228) and at the Quealy Dome truck parking area 20 miles west of Laramie (mm 290) for a total of almost 200 new spaces.
“If weather conditions are poor or I-80 is closed, the new truck parking will provide additional options for truck drivers to park safely while they wait for conditions to improve,” said Tim Morton, District 1 Construction Engineer.
Additionally, semitruck climbing lanes will be installed on 2 miles of I-80 eastbound over Halleck Ridge (about 8 miles west of Elk Mountain, between mm 250.5-252.5) and about 2 miles of I-80 westbound between Cooper Cove and Quealy Dome (mm 279.5-281.5) near the Albany County line.
“Climbing lanes help with traffic flow, especially on inclines with steep grades,” Morton said. “They also help prevent secondary crashes when I-80 reopens after an extended road closure.”
Motorists on I-80 between Laramie and Rawlins will see minimal impacts as Simon Contractors begins the multi-year project today. Activity will start in and around the Fort Steele Rest Area.
The Fort Steele Rest Area closed along with nine other rest areas around the state in June as a cost-saving measure. Both facilities and parking at the rest area will remain closed during I-80 Winter Freight project construction. Please do not park on the on- and off-ramps of the interstate as it will potentially impede work in the area.
Once the project is complete, the Fort Steele Rest Area will reopen to the public.
The $20 million project is funded by a federal Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant and is expected to be complete in October 2022. All WYDOT project scheduling is subject to change, including due to inclement weather and material or equipment availability.
More information about this project will be released as it progresses.
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