WYO 130 over the Snowy Range and WYO 70 over Battle Pass under extended closures

LARAMIE, Wyo. – Wyoming Highway 130 over the high country of the Snowy Range and Wyoming Highway 70 over Battle Pass are under extended closures due to poor conditions at the high elevations.

Both roads will be reevaluated for potential reopening on Monday, Oct. 28.

The highways closed this past weekend due to hazardous winter conditions and poor visibility and have remained closed due to high winds, snowfall, and four to five foot drifts on the road surface.

The Medicine Bow Snotel site in the Snowy Range at 10,500 feet is already recording a snow depth of 34 inches, and the Old Battle Snotel site at 10,000 feet near Battle Pass is reporting 24 inches.

Additional snow and wind is forecast in both ranges for the remainder of the week.

WYO 130 over the Snowy Range and WYO 70 over Battle Pass close annually in late autumn when relatively low traffic and deep snow accumulations render plowing operations impractical.

WYO 130 and WYO 70 are two of several high-elevation mountain roads in Wyoming with seasonal closures. WYO 130 tops out at more than 10,800 feet, and WYO 70 crosses the Continental Divide at the 9,955-foot Battle Pass.

For information about this news release, contact WYDOT District 1 public information specialist Matt Murphy at (307) 745-2142.