The Bureau of Land Management will delay the opening of the Shoshone Lake Road until 5:00 p.m. on June 21. This delay will allow snow drifts in the higher elevations of Cyclone Basin more time to thaw and roadbeds to dry.
In addition, road work on the lower elevation section of the road will begin during this extended closure time, providing time for workers to conduct much needed maintenance on the switchbacks while unimpeded by traffic. After the road opens, the BLM and the contractor plan to allow for some daily traffic during the construction period, but users should plan for delays until the work is completed.
The switchbacks maintenance project, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, employs a local contractor to surface and reestablish drainage on this important section of the BLM road and right-of-way through lands managed by the Wyoming Office of State Lands and Investments.
“Our intent with this project is to ensure that trucks and trailers can continue to access the parking area at the top of the face,” said Jared Oakleaf, outdoor recreation planner for the Lander Field Office. “After that, the road will remain a high-clearance 4X4 route.”
The Shoshone Lake area closes on an annual basis for public safety and resource protection, normally from early December through the middle of June. This year, by keeping the roads closed a few days longer, the BLM can avoid situations where users need to leave the roadbed to avoid drifts or other road hazards created by deep snow and snowmelt.
Always use caution when traveling on roads throughout the area. If roadbeds are saturated, please find a dry route or delay travel entirely.
The BLM will provide updates as the project progresses.
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