Concerns for Pedestrian Safety Cause for Discussion of Saratoga Intersection

JUNE 19, 2025 |

Photo – Circa 1940 photo of Highway 130 and Bridge Avenue in Saratoga facing east – Courtesy Byron Barkhurst

The Wyoming Department of Transportation is unlikely to address safety concerns in downtown Saratoga for another four years.

During the April 15th Saratoga Town Council Meeting, Police Chief John Moore discussed the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s 2024 standard crash data for the town. Chief Moore explained WYDOT has recorded the lowest number of car crashes involving injury or property damage over the past five years.

Chief Moore said the intersection of Bridge Avenue and 1st Street saw the most significant reduction in crashes. Referring to a 1940s-era photo shared by Dyrt Road Realty on Facebook, Chief Moore said a traffic light could further reduce incidents in the area, though he acknowledged the idea remains unpopular.

The safety concerns at the intersection were brought up again following the re-establishment of the Saratoga farmer’s market. Marie Christen, former town clerk and owner of Sweet Marie’s Mercantile, proposed hosting the event near her shop, with food trucks positioned along Bridge Avenue.

Concerns for traffic and pedestrian safety have been raised about staging the food market at the busy interstection. During the May 20th Saratoga Town Council meeting, Police Chief Moore voiced concerns that food trucks could obstruct visibility, increasing the risk to pedestrians crossing the four-way intersection.

The Town Council asked Chief Moore to request a new traffic survey on the Bridge Avenue and Highway 130 intersection from WYDOT. Speaking at the June 17th Town Council Meeting, the police chief said he and Public Works Director Emery Penner met with local WYDOT engineers last month and were presented with a traffic study from 2023.

Chief Moore said WYDOT has concluded the intersection of Highway 130 and Bridge Avenue does not warrant a traffic light. Instead, the state agency will construct pedestrian curb extensions during a 2029 repaving project.

Curb-outs, also known as bulb-outs, are sidewalk extensions that project into the parking lane, narrowing the roadway to improve pedestrian visibility and create safer crossing points at the intersection.

Councilman Bub Barkhurst said drivers face increased risk because they must pull far into the intersection to check for oncoming traffic, blocking the crosswalk.

Drivers on Bridge Street are known for nudging the front end of their vehicles into the intersection for an improved view of oncoming traffic.

Chief Moore said he also asked WYDOT engineers about removing parking along Highway 130 to increase visibility. The police chief reported the town has the authority to remove highway parking spaces, provided they comply with WYDOT’s intersection setback requirements.

With the potential removal of parking spaces along Highway 130, Chief Moore said he is drafting updated parking violation ordinances. The police chief said he currently lacks the ability to properly enforce the town’s parking laws.

A new WYDOT funded traffic study on the intersection of Bridge Avenue and Highway 130 is scheduled for next year. Chief Moore said WYDOT will send an employee to physically monitor traffic at the intersection during different times of the year, including special events, such as Saratoga Days, when traffic is typically heavier than average.