May 9, 2023 |
Photo – Libby Flats – by Tana Davi Bigfoot99
WYDOT crews battle snow drifts to open Carbon County’s two mountain passes.
Every winter, the Wyoming Department of Transportation leaves the two mountain passes through the Sierra Madres and Snowy Range unplowed. Highway 70 and Highway 130 close to through traffic.
WYDOT crews instead focus their efforts on clearing Interstate 80 and the state highways in Carbon County. With higher-than-average snowfalls across the county this past winter, questions were raised about whether the passes would be cleared by WYDOT’s traditional Memorial Day timeframe.
WYDOT Public Relations Specialist Andrea Staley said crews are already tackling the Snowy Range. Staley said Highway 130 is scheduled to open on time.
Staley said plow crews reported a slightly above average amount of accumulation in the Snowy Range. However, Staley said snow in the Sierra Madres is much higher. The public relations specialist said WYDOT crews may need extra time to clear the way.
WYDOT crews never know what they’ll find once plowing begins since they do not maintain the mountain passes during the winter. Staley said she personally witnessed the daunting task snow removal can be during a visit to the Snowy Range work site.
Despite the hardships caused by last winter, it appears that, at least for the Snowy Range, things are progressing as usual. WYDOT crews are working hard to have both passes open by Memorial Day Weekend.
