WYO 130 through the Snowy Range opens for the season

LARAMIE — The seasonally closed section of WYO 130 through the Snowy Range has officially reopened for the summer, nearly a week ahead of schedule.

Crews from Laramie and Saratoga started work on the 12-mile stretch of the scenic byway in early May with a target reopening date of Memorial Day Weekend.  Multiple rotary plows, a snowcat and other heavy equipment were used to clear drifts of snow as tall as 15 feet.

Although the highway is now open to traffic, motorists — including bicyclists and motorcyclists — should stay alert as they travel through the mountain pass. Severe weather is still possible at higher elevations in late spring, including heavy, wet, intense snow storms. Motorists are reminded to check road conditions on WYDOT's 511 website or on the Wyoming 511 mobile app before they travel.

“The roadway is clear of drifts, but significant snow melt occurs during the day, which often drains onto or across the road surface,” said Tim Morton, WYDOT District 1 Maintenance engineer. “This snow melt freezes at night creating hazardous slick spots, especially in the early morning hours.”

Morton added tall snow banks may limit visibility around curves and can obscure signs, delineators or guardrail.

WYDOT maintenance crews will be in the area in the coming weeks to make repairs to items like guardrail or sign posts damaged by snow. Stay alert for workers in the area and be prepared to slow down.

The highway is one of several high-elevation mountain roads in Wyoming that closes annually in late autumn when relatively low traffic and deep snow accumulations render plowing operations impractical. The scenic byway, which tops out at 10,800 feet in the Snowy Range, closed for the winter season Nov. 10.

Last year, the highway opened May 18. WYO 130 opened May 25 in 2019, on May 21 in 2018 and on May 25 in both 2017 and 2016.

For information about this news release, contact WYDOT District 1 public information specialist Jordan Achs at (307) 745-2142. For the latest road conditions, visit WYDOT's 511 website, call 5-1-1, or download the Wyoming 511 app. Follow District 1 on Facebook and on Twitter.