I-80 travel to be impacted as WYDOT works on 200 new truck parking spots

Wyoming’s plan to build 200 new truck parking spots will impact I-80 travel through the state starting Monday. 

The $20 million “winter freight project” along Interstate 80 between Laramie and Rawlins will resume after a winter pause on Monday, April 19th, and will seriously impact travel as the work continues. The project began in the fall of 2020, and will create 100 new truck parking spots at the Fort Steele Rest Area east of Rawlins and 100 new truck spots at the Quealy Dome parking area west of Laramie. The Fort Steele Rest Area, including it’s current parking lot, will remain closed throughout the duration of the construction project. 

“Traffic on I-80 will start seeing impacts Monday as crews start structure work and begin building climbing lanes on I-80,” WYDOT said in a statement according to Oil City News.

 “Work will impact the eastbound lanes over Halleck Ridge (mile markers 250.5-252.5) west of Elk Mountain and in the westbound lanes between Quealy Dome and Cooper Cove (mile markers 281.5-279.5) near the Albany/Carbon County line. Watch for lane closures, reduced speed limits and other traffic changes during construction. Avoid distractions like cell phones when driving through work zones.”

“This additional truck parking is much-needed,” said WYDOT District 1 Construction Engineer Wes Bybee. “The additional parking areas can help reduce the number of fall-asleep crashes, reduce crashes and operating costs for trucks searching for parking, and offer truck drivers an alternative place to park and wait out poor weather conditions.”

The project is expected to be complete in October of 2022, but WYDOT does note that “Project scheduling is subject to change, including due to inclement weather and material or equipment availability.”