Update: This story was modified on Friday, February 21, with new details about the eastbound tunnel's reopening.
The Wyoming Department of Transportation opened the eastbound Interstate 80 tunnel to head-to-head traffic Thursday after a massive and deadly crash shuttered the westbound two-lane tunnel on Friday, Feb. 14.
Crews have placed more than 5,000 feet of concrete barrier and added additional traffic control signage and devices to help guide drivers through the area, WYDOT wrote in a release.
“We are treating it a lot like a typical construction zone on Interstate 80, but with some added safety measures,” WYDOT District 3 Engineer John Eddins said in the release. WB lanes in the tunnel where the crash occurred will remain closed pending repairs.
Expect reduced speed of 35 mph from the crossover at mile marker 90 to the crossover at mile marker 91 and plenty of advanced signage to help drivers navigate the head-to-head lanes, WYDOT said. The concrete barriers feature screens to reduce headlight glare from opposing traffic.
Also expect delays. "Drivers should still plan for delays due to the reduced lane in each direction and lower speeds, WYDOT wrote.
“This will help get interstate traffic moving on the highway again and out of Green River, but congestion will still be a factor,” Eddins said.
Traffic is moving in both directions one week following the initial crash that killed three and injured 18.
Christopher Johnson, 20, of Rawlins, Wyoming; Quentin Romero, 22, of Rawlins, Wyoming; and Harmanjeet Singh, 30, of Nova Scotia, Canada, succumbed to their injuries on scene, WYDOT reported on Tuesday.
“Our deepest sympathies and prayers go out to the community of Rawlins and to the families, friends, and loved ones of all three of these individuals,” said WYDOT Director Darin Westby. "In total, WHP believes 26 vehicles were involved in the event: 10 passenger vehicles and 16 commercial vehicles. Six commercial vehicles and two passenger vehicles were completely destroyed by the fire."
Videos of the crash circulating on social media showed the harrowing moments where traffic ground to a halt, apparently after a tractor-trailer jack knifed toward the end of the tunnel. One video showed TikTok creator @Tophauler0 kicking out his windshield to flee the spreading blaze.
There continues to be a 10.5-foot width and 16-foot height restriction through the head-to-head lanes in the EB tunnel. Oversized vehicles should contact WYDOT’s oversize loads permit office for detours.
“Thank you to the community of Green River for your support in keeping traffic moving during this thorough and complicated investigation,” said WYDOT District Engineer John Eddins. “We know that the detoured traffic was very impactful to your community this weekend, and we will continue to work to minimize impacts.”
WYDOT and WHP said they were working closely with the National Transportation Safety Board on parallel crash investigations.
