The seasonally-closed section of Wyoming Highway 130 through the Snowy Range has officially reopened for the summer.
Crews from Laramie and Saratoga, with some assistance from Arlington and Cheyenne crews, started work on the 12-mile stretch of the scenic byway in early May with a target reopening date of Memorial Day Weekend. Multiple rotary plows, snowcats and other heavy equipment were used to clear drifts of snow as tall as 15 feet.
Although the highway is now open to traffic, motorists — including bicyclists and motorcyclists — should stay alert as they travel through the mountain pass. Severe weather is still possible at higher elevations in late spring, including heavy, wet, intense snow storms. Check road conditions before you travel at www.wyoroad.info or on the Wyoming 511 mobile app.
Tim Morton, WYDOT District 1 Maintenance Engineer, warns drivers to “be aware of melting snow along the roadway. The snow melt can refreeze at night creating isolated hazardous slick spots which may catch drivers off guard.”
WYDOT maintenance crews will 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.
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. The scenic byway, which tops out at 10,800 feet in the Snowy Range, closed for the winter season Nov. 10.
Last year, the highway opened May 26. WYO 130 opened May 21 in 2021, May 18 in 2020, May 25 in 2019, on May 21 in 2018 and on May 25 in both 2017 and 2016.