JANUARY 8, 2025|
Photo – Image of type of sign sought by County Officials – Courtesy transsupply.com
County commissioners are continuing to investigate ways to keep motorists off Sage Creek Road.
As reported by Bigfoot99, the Board of Carbon County Commissioners drafted a letter to the Wyoming Department of Transportation, requesting that flashing road closure signs be placed on Highway 71, south of Rawlins. The county does not maintain the southern portion of Highway 71, known as Sage Creek Road, during the winter. The board hopes that the signs will prevent motorists from attempting to use the unmaintained roads whenever Interstate 80 is closed to traffic.
During Tuesday’s county commissioner meeting, Road and Bridge Superintendent Kandis Fritz announced that WYDOT officials have responded to the county’s letter. However, Fritz noted that the state agency is not fully supportive of the request to install flashing signs on Highway 71.
In the return letter from WYDOT, District One Engineer Ralph Tarango offered to place temporary signs on Highway 71 when Interstate 80 is closed.
As part of the arrangement, WYDOT can move the signs at its discretion. Instead, Fritz said the county could purchase its own mobile signs. The road and bridge superintendent admitted that, while expensive, her department could use these signs for other projects around the county as needed.
Fritz said the towed signs are estimated to cost around $15,000.
Carbon County Emergency Manager Lenny Layman said at least four other counties in Wyoming have banded together to ask WYDOT for increased signage. Layman offered to investigate the matter and report back to the board.
Commission Chairman Travis Moore instructed Layman to contact the other four counties and find out how much it will cost to purchase two large trailer signs.
