Trucking news and briefs for Friday, Oct. 23, 2020:
Wyoming begins I-80 parking expansion project
The Wyoming Department of Transportation is working to bring additional winter truck parking and other safety improvements to I-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.
