WYO 70 over Battle Pass to temporarily reopen; highway may close again this weekend

BAGGS, Wyo. – Wyoming Highway 70 over Battle Pass reopened today, Friday, Oct. 25, at 9 a.m. following an extended closure this week.

WYDOT Maintenance crews from Saratoga and Baggs were able to reopen the highway after working on snow removal throughout the week.

However, drivers are advised that WYO 70 may close again this weekend as another winter storm approaches Southeast Wyoming.

Drivers should use extreme caution or avoid using some private or Forest Service roads off of WYO 70, as some of those roads could contain impassible snow drifts. WYDOT does not maintain routes in the area other than WYO 70.

Meanwhile, WYO 130 over the high country of the Snowy Range remains under an extended closure and will be reevaluated on Monday, Oct. 28, to see if the road can be reopened this year. However, the National Weather Service in Cheyenne is forecasting 8-12 inches of snow for much of the Snowy Range this weekend, with higher amounts in certain areas.

Both highways closed last 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.

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.