September 19, 2023 |
Photo – Ribbon Cutting Poster – Bigfoot99 file photo
The ribbon cutting ceremony for the I-80 Winter Freight Project is scheduled for tomorrow morning in the parking area at the Quealy Dome exit.
The new parking area is intended to provide safe areas off the interstate for commercial truck drivers to rest or wait out southern Wyoming’s winter storms. As part of the project, added truck passing lanes will improve traffic flow and increase safety for motorists on steep inclines.
The I-80 Winter Freight Project began in the fall of 2020 with a $20 million federal grant. The total cost of the project is estimated at around $34 million.
At tomorrow’s event, WYDOT officials will offer a short address on the construction of parking areas, truck climbing lanes, 12 miles of wildlife fencing, a new salt/sand storage building, and a 6-and-three-quarter mile pavement overlay at Halleck Ridge between Rawlins and Laramie.
Additional parking for big rigs to exit the highway and ride out Wyoming storms was a big focus of the project.
A major component of the project was the construction of additional parking at the Quealy Dome exit, mile marker 290, and at the Fort Steele Rest Area, mile marker 228. About 200 parking spaces for big rigs were built at the two areas.
The truck climbing lanes are located at Halleck Ridge, between mile markers 250.5-252.5 in the eastbound lanes, and at Cooper Cove, between mile markers 279.5-281.5 in the westbound lanes.
The public is invited to Tomorrow’s event. Refreshments will be served. The ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. at the Quealy Dome truck parking area at milepost 290 on I-80.
The project is slated to be completed this fall.
