Wyoming residents say that drivers who aren’t able to use recently shuttered rest areas have been relieving themselves along residential roads.
On July 21, local news outlet The Buffalo Bulletin reported that nearly a dozen piles of human feces and used toilet paper had been spotted on the side of a residential roadway near Orin Junction, where a rest area has recently closed.
The outlet called the smell “questionable, at best.”
Homeowner Jim Skeen said, “I understand people need to relieve themselves. My wife and I have spotted people relieving themselves (along our driveway) on our way back home during daylight. The other day there was a guy standing by the gate going to the bathroom. He was pretending to open the gate, with no key. I tell people not to do that. They give me sign language back.”
In June, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon made the call to shutter 10 rest areas located throughout the state due to budgetary shortfalls.
The rest area locations that were closed are listed below:
- Lusk on US 18 Guernsey on US 26
- Greybull on US 14-16-20
- Moorcroft on Interstate 90
- Star Valley on US 89
- Ft. Steele on Interstate 80
- Sundance on Interstate 90
- Upton on US 16
- Orin Junction on Interstate 25
- Chugwater on Interstate 25
WYDOT estimated that the closure of the 10 rest areas would save approximately $197,453 from June 15 through Sept. 30, which is the end of the fiscal year. After, the department will save about $789,812 per year.