August 31, 2023 |
Photo – I-80 Ribbon Cutting Poster – Courtesy WYDOT
WYDOT will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of commercial safety projects on I-80.
At 10:00 am on Wednesday, September 20th, the Wyoming Department of Transportation will celebrate the opening of the Interstate 80 Winter Freight Project at Quealy Dome parking area. WYDOT Public Relations Specialist Andrea Staley said the program, which was funded by both state and federal money, was designed to increase the safety of commercial trucking traffic along the I-80 corridor.
Staley said the new commercial parking spots will provide truckers with a safe place to wait out the inevitable winter storms and subsequent road closures. Staley said WYDOT also created new passing lanes on I-80 and protective wildlife barriers between Elk Mountain and Walcott Junction. Staley said additional road salt storage was constructed at the Quealy Dome rest area as well.
Interstate 80 is a vital trucking corridor connecting San Francisco, California, and Teaneck, New Jersey. Staley said WYDOT’s construction efforts were focused on making the section of the road running through Wyoming as safe as possible.
Staley said the $34 million I-80 Winter Freight Project was made possible thanks to funding from the federal BUILD grant. Used to support transportation projects across the country, the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development is a program administered through the US Department of Transportation. Staley said Simon, a multistate construction company with offices in Laramie, was awarded $20 million in BUILD grant money to increase safety along I-80.
Staley said September 20th’s ribbon cutting is the official opening of the I-80 Winter Freight Project. Not every aspect of the project is completed, said Staley. However, everything should be finished by winter.
With the majority of highway construction work finished, Staley said WYDOT crews will now shift their focus to winter road preparation. Staley advised motorists to drive safely in construction zones and around snowplows.
The I-80 Winter Freight Project official opening ribbon cutting ceremony begins at 10:00am on Wednesday, September 20th, at the Quealy Dome parking area at mile marker 290. Representatives from WYDOT will give a short address covering the construction activities of the project. Refreshments will be provided.
