May 26, 2023 |
Photo – WYDOT Rotary Plow – by Matt Copeland Bigfoot99
Both scenic byways in Carbon County, Wyoming 130 and 70, are open for the summer driving season. The Snowy Range Road between the Platte Valley and the Laramie Valley opened Friday morning shortly before 8 a.m. WYO 70 over Battle Pass opened for the season during the noon hour yesterday.
Crews from Saratoga and Baggs started work on the 23-mile stretch of highway in early May, using multiple rotary plows, snowcats and other heavy equipment to clear large drifts of snow.
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 may be in the area in the coming weeks to make repairs to items like guardrails or signposts damaged by snow. Stay alert for workers in the area and be prepared to slow down.
The opening of the two scenic byways is commonly viewed as the unofficial start of summer in southern Wyoming.
