WYO 70 over Battle Pass opens for the season

SARATOGA — Wyoming Department of Transportation maintenance crews reopened the seasonally closed section of Wyoming Highway 70 today for the summer season.

Crews from Saratoga and Baggs started work on the 23-mile stretch of highway in early May, using multiple rotary plows and other heavy equipment to clear large drifts of snow.

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. This season the route, which tops out at 9,955 feet as it crosses the Continental Divide at Battle Pass, closed Nov. 13.

Motorists through the scenic highway should use caution; severe weather is still possible at higher elevations in late spring, including heavy, wet, intense snow storms. Check road conditions before you travel at WYDOT's 511 website or on the Wyoming 511 mobile app.

“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 may 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.

This year’s reopening date is almost two weeks ahead of schedule; WYO 70 typically has a target reopening date of the first week in June. Last year, WYO 70 opened on May 21. The highway reopened June 3 in 2019, May 21 in 2018, June 1 in 2017 and June 9 in 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.