June 12, 2026 updated June 22, 2026
We are sharing this release for our friends at WYDOT, and answering some questions for us Rawlins’ folks.
Does local traffic have to follow the commercial detour?
No, commercial traffic is treated differently as they move through communities. They are supposed to stay on truck routes except for deliveries. Locals can use other routes, including using Murray and Harshman, to detour around the bypass closure. Please use caution while driving on detours and obey all posted speed limits (even school zones), as traffic patterns will be higher than typical in those areas.
How has the Rawlins Police Department been active with this detour?
The Rawlins Police Department (RPD) has worked extensively with WYDOT and the City of Rawlins Streets division to improve the number and placement of signage for both the commercial and local detour routes. We have included a selection of the types of signage used in the photos below. They have increased enforcement of speed limits through the detours. They ask that all local drivers be patient and obey all traffic laws. The RPD is also enforcing the commercial truck routes, which requires all semis to be on truck routes except for delivery. If you see trucks off the truck route (3rd, Spruce, and Cedar), please call the RPD non-emergency number at 307-328-4530. The commercial drivers can receive a ticket.
Edinburgh is also under construction. Will I be able to get into Highland Hills?
The intersection of Edinburgh and Inverness will typically only close half at a time to allow traffic into the Highland Hills neighborhood from the south. For instances where the full intersection will be closed, it will not be overnight and detours will be marked. The entrance into Highland Hills from the North via Aberdeen is unaffected.
Could the bypass stay open during construction instead?
By closing the bypass and using existing roads as the detours, the project saved over $500,000. It would have also slowed the project considerably.
Where can I get more information?
WYDOT will continue to provide updates on the WYDOT Pedestrian Underpass project. For more information on the Edinburgh project, visit www.rawlinswy.gov/edinburgh. If you have more questions, please contact
Mira Miller, City of Rawlins Community Relations/PIO at 307-328-4500 ext. 1022. You can also sign up to receive news via email or text from the City of Rawlins at www.rawlinswy.gov/notifyme.
WYDOT Release: Rawlins Higley Boulevard pedestrian underpass to move into second phase of construction
RAWLINS, Wyo. – Crews with Reiman Corp. and the Wyoming Department of Transportation will shift into the second phase of construction for the new pedestrian underpass on US 287 Bypass/Higley Boulevard corridor.
Beginning Monday, June 15, crews will be closing a section of the 287 Bypass/Higley Blvd. between Harshman St./Aberdeen Blvd. and Inverness Blvd. This closure is expected to extend into late July to accommodate the installation of the pedestrian underpass.
A signed detour will be in place to direct traffic around the closure. Commercial vehicle traffic will be advised to use Interstate 80 exit 211, Spruce Street, as a detour, via overhead message boards on Interstate 80.
The Higley pedestrian underpass represents two decades of studies and efforts aimed at making North Higley Boulevard a safer route for pedestrians. A partnership between WYDOT and the Rawlins Urban Systems Committee determined that an underground pedestrian tunnel is the most effective and cost-efficient solution for this location. Over 80% of the project’s funding comes from the State Urban Systems program, with the remaining portion funded by the Specific Purpose “6th Penny” Tax.
The pedestrian underpass will enable pedestrians to safely travel between Highland Hills, nearby schools, and locations west of the bypass without the need to cross the busy highway.
All project scheduling is subject to change, including due to inclement weather and material availability.
