The Wyoming Department of Transportation is working to bring additional winter truck parking and other safety improvements to Interstate 80.
WYDOT’s I-80 Winter Freight project will bring nearly 100 new truck parking spaces to both the Fort Steele rest area about 7 miles east of Sinclair at milemarker 228 and the Quealy Done truck parking area 20 miles west of Laramie at milemarker 290, for almost 200 new spaces along the corridor.
“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, WYDOT District 1 construction engineer.
Additionally, WYDOT is installing truck climbing lanes on two miles of I-80 eastbound over Halleck Ridge (about 8 miles west of Elk Mountain between milemarker 250.5 and 252.5) and about two miles of I-80 westbound between Cooper Cove and Quealy Dome (milemarker 279.5-281.5).
“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.”
Work on the multi-year project will begin around the Fort Steele rest area, which closed along with nine others in June as a cost-saving measure. The department said facilities and parking will remain closed during the project and asked that drivers not park on the on- and off-ramps, as it could impede work in the area. The rest area will reopen once the project is complete.
WYDOT projects the project will be completed in October 2022.
Construction starts this week on WYDOT’s I-80 Winter Freight project, which will bring close to 100 new semitruck parking spaces to both the Fort Steele Rest Area (mile marker 228) and at the Quealy Dome truck parking area (mm 290) on I-80 for a total of almost 200 new spaces.
Additionally, semitruck climbing lanes will be installed on 2 miles of I-80 eastbound over Halleck Ridge (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/Carbon County line.
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.
Updates about the multi-year project will be released as it progresses.
More information can be found here: http://www.dot.state.wy.us/…/multi-year-project-to-bring-mo…
