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I-80 reopens after 40-hour closure

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By the Star-Tribune staff

Wednesday, January 30, 2008 11:42 AM MST

CHEYENNE -- When Wyoming Department of Transportation crews broke through this morning to reopen Interstate 80 after 40 hours, it was equally a victory of man and machine and Mother Nature letting up for a moment, WYDOT officials said today.

It's been an unusually tough winter, and the worst of it for keeping roads clear has been between Walcott and Creston junctions, said WYDOT District 1 Maintenance Engineer Tim McGary.

It's the snow. Not the falling stuff, necessarily, but the dry and fallen getting scooped up by the wind and drifting.

"Our area foreman in Rawlins has worked for WYDOT for 33 years, and right now he says he has never seen this much snow just west of Rawlins," McGary said in a press release. "They've been getting pounded for two months."

In fact, the crews out of Rawlins, Baggs, Saratoga, Arlington and Elk Mountain have had at least one plow on the road nearly every day since Thanksgiving, McGary said. And some drivers have had only one day off in that time.

Then came the storm this week.

"We had all the snow lying out in the desert and sagebrush so pretty and fluffy, but you get another two inches on top and you get those relentless 70 miles per hour winds, and it whites out for miles," McGary said. "The drifts form on the roads. We plow the drifts, but you do that long enough and it inevitably creates windrows. Then the wind just keeps beating you."

In anticipation of the latest storm, on Sunday arrangements were made to have help from Riverton, Lander and Thermopolis crews come down to Rawlins, WYDOT officials said. Two trucks were brought down as well as machine operators for dozers, motor graders, and a snow blower and operator borrowed from Rock Springs. Help also arrived from an operator and a truck from Cheyenne and two crew from Saratoga.

"We mustered all the help we could possibly get during the entire storm," McGary said.

On Tuesday, two plows worked all day and night west of Rawlins where the worst problems were. They began with three trucks, but one broke down. Drifts were continuously coming back over the driving lanes, so crews used a rotary plow normally reserved for opening mountain passes to chew through the 4- or 5-foot snow piles.

All the interchanges in the area were totally blown shut beneath the bridges.

"The big break to finally clearing this was the wind drop before dawn," McGary said. "We were finally able to get visibility to effectively get the snow pushed off the road. But we'll be battling this for quite a little while."

He plans on hiring a contractor to remove some of the snow still under the bridges and drifts on the shoulders in some areas.

"We'll try several different combinations of people and equipment to get this knocked back," he said. "In the meantime, if it starts snowing again and the wind picks up, we might find ourselves back where we were."


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Comments to this story.

C Parlett wrote on Jan 30, 2008 11:54 AM:

" We are 17 miles south of Wamsutter and it is really bad. The rig hasn't had any peolpe moving on or off location for 3 days. We have drifts 12 feet tall, so they aren't the only ones fighting the weather, all the rigs out in this area have the same problems. Good Luck to us All "

Laramie wrote on Jan 30, 2008 2:09 PM:

" Why was the road closed between Cheyenne and Laramie Westbound all day. A lot of people commute between the two cities and they could get from Laramie to Cheyenne, but not back - even though the roads were clear. If it was to keep trucks from stacking up in Laramie they should at least allow local traffice through. "

Memories wrote on Jan 30, 2008 2:20 PM:

" I really feel for all of ya! After living 40 years in the Laramie, Rawlins, and Baggs area I can certainly understand. The days I spent on I-80 were numerous; I've been away for 4 years now and my knuckles are still white! "

WyoGuy wrote on Jan 30, 2008 6:22 PM:

" Hey Laramie, if you had bothered to check with Highway Patrol, they were letting "local traffic" like commuters go through the gate. You just had to stop at the gate and let the trooper know that you were local traffic. "

UW Student wrote on Jan 30, 2008 8:09 PM:

" Why were all the Westbound lanes closed and the Eastbound open?? This is a question the newspaper should have got a hold of. I heard that the roads were fine between Laramie and Cheyenne. Instead students that commute from Cheyenne to Laramie had to drive to Ft. Collins and up to Laramie on 287. It makes no sense. Tell us why Tribune... "

so sad wrote on Jan 31, 2008 7:39 AM:

" Sorry to hear you folks who drive back and forth for education were bothered by the road closure. Guess reading and phone use are not taught anymore in college? A call to the patrol/highway department might have solved your problem about local travel.

And of course if one of you should slide off the road and freeze to death cause you didn't pack a safety kit in the car your family would sue the state cause they didn't take care of your driving demands.

Maybe you should go out and ride with one of the plow drivers and see what it is like to risk your life so folks can get to Wal mart faster.

The highway department makes keeping I-80 wide open no matter how bad the road gets because they are costing every truck on the road millions of dollars and destroying the as needed delivery system that is now in place around the country. Just as the folks delivering to the Wal mart distribution center in Cheyenne. A 10 minute delivery window then the trucker is told to go away?

So maybe whining makes you feel better and I am sure the snow plow operators appreciate your concern for their safety. They after all were able to stay home and have hot coffee and donuts in the comfort of their palatial estates. "

heard huh wrote on Jan 31, 2008 7:41 AM:

" Well we heard that the wyoming basketball team would win games too, but hearing ain't always believing. Guess what you hear ain't always based on facts.

We heard that the road from laramie to fort collins was closed so we skipped school figuring that our edumacation that we was gettin wasn't worth our lives. besides oprah had a good show on didn't she??
"

Sandy wrote on Jan 31, 2008 8:46 AM:

" Dang, I'm glad that I moved to Tennessee where we get maybe 1-6 inches of snow a year. "

Laramie wrote on Jan 31, 2008 10:07 AM:

" Hey WyoGuy,

I guess I am concerned that WyDot didn't take the time to place that information on the website or part of the phone message. And I don't know about you, but getting to the gate was near impossible because of all the trucks waiting to be let through. Last thing I wanted to do work my way up there only to find out I had to sit and wait and not have a way of getting back to town. WyoDot needs to open the lines of communication and inform commuters that local traffice was being let through. Like "UW Student' wrote, how many people, myself included, made the trip down to Ft Collins and up 287 to get back home. "

Rance wrote on Feb 1, 2008 6:22 AM:

" Safest 40 hours EVER on I-80 with all them trucks stacked up. But I'll just bet they didn't turn off their engines. Instead they let them idle and contribute additional tons of carbon monoxide to polluting the air and CO2 to global warming. "

George M. wrote on Feb 1, 2008 9:27 AM:

" If westbound I-80 between Cheyenne and Laramie is closed there is an alternate route on Happy Jack Road. It is more sheltered than I-80 (less groung blizzard) and doesn't get the truck traffic which beats down the snow to black ice. Sometimes it is closed about 10 miles west of Cheyenne along with I-80 and sometimes it is open. Even in good weather it is a nicer drive. Commuters should check it out.

PS I see that there has been residential development near the Vedawoo exit on I-80. People who have bought homes there may be questioning the wisdom of their decision about now. IMO it has a great view but is a very tough place to get through a winter. There is a reason why the UP relocated its tracks away from that area over a century ago. "

Grant wrote on Feb 1, 2008 12:02 PM:

" I am confounded by the reaction of people to our annual weather. Folks, this is Wyoming. We have real winters here. And, the government can't make everything the way you want it to be (using our tax dollars). We cannot stupid proof life, or change the laws of physics to meet your personal desires (most are not needs). Breath in and smell the reality. It would do many of you some good.
"

Halli wrote on Feb 1, 2008 3:15 PM:

" Should some of you want to be able to drive unfettered by weather year around I suggest you try AZ, CA, FL, HI or NM as a new location to live. They only very rarely have problems with closed roadways due to mother nature. As noted earlier in this thread, the government cannot and should not try to create a harmless, consequence-less world for all with your various demands. When the weather is not clement, trying staying home and reading or teaching your kids something about values and responsibilities. It may do you and they some actual good, certainly more than that unneeded trip to the Mega-Mart to buy Chinese lead-laced junk.
"

CasperNative wrote on Feb 2, 2008 4:18 AM:

" Well, let me see. If the WYDOT makes an announcment that traffic to Laramie is allowed for "local traffic only", I wonder how many other would try to get there by claiming to have a Local delivery in Laramie. No, they probably did the right thing by stopping everyone in Cheyenne. After all, Cheyenne has one or two more places to park the big trucks then Laramie. And, we all have to remember way back when I-80 was surveyed in, all the local ranchers and others who lived there, told the Fed's NOT to build the Interstate where they did. Just another shining example of the Fed's listening to the locals. "

Road Warrior wrote on Feb 3, 2008 6:16 PM:

" What the "stay home and read" crowd doesn't seem to understand is that some people have business that they HAVE to conduct in both places. When the roads are closed to prevent the least capable from hurting themselves, it can and often does greatly hinder a strong majority that possess the skill and ability to manage themselves accordingly. "

phredd wrote on Feb 3, 2008 10:49 PM:

" I work at a truck stop near Bridger Valley and I was quite confused by the WYDOT web site and the phone service. One section would say this or that section was closed and another section would say 'no unnecessary travel'. The problem seems to be an ongoing thing each time a storm hits. And people don't seem to realize that if the road is nearly impassable for the previous 10 miles, it probably is nearly impassable the NEXT ten miles. "

earthling wrote on Feb 5, 2008 11:55 AM:

" This weather is all coming from the Haliburton-anti-democrat weather control machine invented by the VP. It is, as are all things bad, attributable to the Republican Party and its operatives. "

so sad wrote on Feb 5, 2008 5:28 PM:

" Early tried to post a message about laramie and road warrior needing to contact the state and have them station a person at each of their doors so when the road is opened or there is a way they can get to wal mart as quick as they need to they will be personally notified. And that would be two less snow plow operators to clutter up that road that really wasn't all that bad after all.

Of course they both are more qualified to drive over a road that requires snow plow drivers to operate in pairs to be somewhat safe and to work day and night to get the road open for them. And of course we all know the snow plow drivers were just out there drinking coffee and smoking till the road cleared by itself after annoying the folks long enough.

But then again maybe the road was closed due to the experience that was had last year when many of the "expert" drivers ended up in a pile on the highway after not understanding the hazards?

Oh well, drive fast and get that cell phone going. "

JCN wrote on Feb 6, 2008 7:29 AM:

" Wow! We haven't had a real winter in Wyoming for quite a few years and finally when we actually get one people complain and are shocked by road closures? This is the Rocky Mountains people! I agree with Halli move back those warm states you folks probably came from. The DOT can only do so much for the little help that they have so deal with it. "

WyoPeeps wrote on Feb 6, 2008 8:03 AM:

" earthling - So from what I gather, you are trying to say this was Dick Cheney's fault that we got snowed in??? Of course if the roads close and Halliburton goes nowhere then they MUST make money off not working......

The road that really should have been closed is 191 north between Rock Springs and Pinedale. WYDOT seems to neglect this over used stretch of road. And one morning during this 40 hour period, there was 4 inches of snow for almost 30 miles starting near Flying J in RS! The rest of it was drifting over in some spots and there were many cars in the road... I know they will never close it, as that would effectively stop the oilfields until they get it working. So tell me, why do other districts get help, but RS, Farson and Pinedale areas have just a couple plows working this high traffic road? This road is bad enough when there is just a little bit of snow, because it will start to blow around big time, cutting visibility and forcing these retards who don't know how to drive to slow down to a dangerous 25-30 mph on a road with all other conditions making it capable of near highway speeds! (50-65 mph) And then the people who do go faster are forced to pass in a limited visibility situation! Most people will come back with, well is highway sped safe? If you are one of the people who travel that road on a daily basis, you know where the safe places to pass are, you know the road very well. The most dangerous thing is to come up on that car doing 30 out of the snow or fog and not be able to slow down in time.... It may not have happened recently, but it will happen eventually..... "

justamom wrote on Feb 6, 2008 8:40 AM:

" Our daughter was in a car wreck on I-80 on the 28th of January on her way back to College in Laramie. The roads were good until Wamsutter. All road reports were good and all web cams were clear and sunny. She called me from Wamsutter and I checked the road report, all was clear. !5 minutes later she hit a drift at mile marker 195 and was then hit by a semi. By the grace of God she wasn't hurt. I would have been very happy if the roads would have been closed and they should probably be closed more often. Professors have exceptions for missed classes but nothing can be done if you lose your life. "

wah wah wrote on Feb 7, 2008 11:22 AM:

" Wyo peeps--

I have been making the drive between laramie and Jackson (both ways) several times a winter for several years now, and i can assure that the worst of that drive is by far the portion around Walcott and Arlington on I-80 each time. In fact, as far is the weahter goes, the portion between Rock Springs and Pinedale is usually the best, though I'll agree with your traffic concerns--It should probably be widened. "

WyoPeeps wrote on Feb 8, 2008 4:28 PM:

" Wah Wah - I am not going to argue with that one bit. I have traveled that section quite a bit also. But the fact of the matter is, that this stretch of road is too heavily used to let it get drifted over like they have been. The have started their passing lanes project, and that will help a bit. But just last night again, I had quite a line of little cars behind me because I was busting the drifts in my truck for them to get through. I would also love to see some more webcams put up on thier website. There is none between Rock Springs and Wolcott Junction, and I would also like to see one maybe in the Farson Area. There are WYDot Buildings right on the road in these lcdations, so they could get their internet access there..... "

Obbop wrote on Feb 9, 2008 9:02 AM:

" What a bunch of Wyoming wimps.

When our roads close we get out and walk. If you really want to get somewhere bad enough 50 miles of waist-deep snow is merely a hindrance. "

To obbop wrote on Feb 12, 2008 2:21 AM:

" Ya must be from the east and I have lived both there and in Wyoming. Agreed inches of snow in say upstate NY isn't anything, but you don't have the 40 to 60 below wind chill factor. In Wyomin, we sit tight or freeze to death. Try standing out in the Wyoming winter wind when the temps are around zero with a 50 mph wind blowing the snow so hard ya can't see your hand infront of your face. Try walking a mile in it and when you've dont that, well ya'll can call us whimps. Until then SHADDUP! "

UW Student wrote on Feb 12, 2008 10:48 AM:

" My thanks go out to the road crews that have worked so hard this winter, and the winter isn't over yet. I was unaware that people were being allowed to go from Cheyenne to Laramie the other day because there was no way to get to where the road was closed because semi's had the entire road blocked off. As well WYDOT could add notes like "local traffic allowed" to their road closures on the web site.

P.S. to so sad

I have lived and driven in Wyoming since I was 14. I always carry winter supplies in my truck as well as extra for people who may be stranded with nothing. Not all college students are how you depict. I am concerned for the safety of others just as much as I am concerned for my own life when I drive on bad roads in Wyoming. Getting to Wal-Mart is the least of my worries. I am more worried about ARRIVING ALIVE, so get a life and quit stereotyping people. "

duh wrote on Feb 13, 2008 9:53 PM:

" duh' and would you rance sit there in your car with no heat????? not all semi have a generator to run their heat........LOL you people are too bored ,guess you dont care much if you are alive.It was for the sake of avoiding more deaths that the hwy was closed , and you are griping??Yep and you would gripe if you where in the hospital...... "

CSU Student wrote on Feb 14, 2008 12:57 PM:

" UW student go back to where you lived when you were 13. WYDOT has done the bare minimum to keep the roads open this winter and you can see that every time you drive from this state to another. It is amazing how the road conditions change at the borders of Utah, Colorado and even Montanna. If you did anything besides drive to WalMart you would know that. But hey, what should I expect for UW Student. If you tools would stop crying about not being able to get from Cheyenne to Laramie whenever you want to maybe you should stop and think a little about where you live. I don't care how long you have lived here or if you have ever seen a winter like this before you live in Wyoming. If you want LA weather go live there. If you want Florida weather go live there. You seem to be educated enough to find a job 45 interstate miles away from where you live, why aren't you smart enough to realise that the weather here does not revolve around you. Why not pay attention to what your doing while your doing it. You want another web cam? Great you can have a good look at the 200 yard section of road and get a great idea of the conditions from Laramie to Rock Springs. There was a drift on the road that your daughter hit? Did you ask her if she saw it? Why did she hit it, why was she not looking at the road while she was driving on it? I don't really think you should start bragging about how your daughter is in college if she isn't smart enough to not hit a giant drift on the interstate in her car.

Wha Wha, web cam or not, up to date report or not people are going to drivve when the roads are open and stay home when there closed. If you think you have all of the information you need for a hassel/problem free drive on the interstate or any other road in this state because you read that it was "slick in spots, windy with blowing and drifted snow" the you are sadly mistaken. That report stays there from late Nov. to early April.

Quit your crying and drive!!! "

Tguide wrote on Feb 14, 2008 1:03 PM:

" Another idiotic comment from earthling! Wants to blame everything, including road closures, on the present administration! "

UW Student wrote on Feb 15, 2008 4:34 PM:

" CSU Student no wonder why everyone up here hates CSU. You made the stupidest remarks ever. I wasn't complaining about the roads being ill maintained I was complaining about the fact that it was closed just to keep trucks backing up in Laramie. It was covered in a article by the Jackson Star Tribune as to why they shut the roads down when they are clear. Also I don't have a job 45 miles away. I go to school. Also how am I not paying attention. No where in my posts did I say anything about having a daughter. I do not need another web cam. Just information that states that an interstate is closed except to local traffic would be nice. I don't know how you are even in college with how poorly written you post was. Keep going to CSU learning how to be a Yuppie. Just look at your sports teams. The guys and the women haven't even won a conference game this year. Stay in Colorado and enjoy your stupidity... "

Wyomingite wrote on Feb 15, 2008 4:37 PM:

" Another CSU student proves why the University of Wyoming is a better school. Learn how to stay on subject and write properly. It is disgusting how ignorant and dense many of you are. Just because you come to are state and think you can drive as fast as you want doesn't mean you know how to drive. So quit your complaining and illogical typing and learn. "

Owen T wrote on Feb 19, 2008 9:53 AM:

" I printed this page for a friend in texas who thinks they have winter. they go from fall to spring and i wanted them to see what real winter is about. sorry for all the stranded folks. stranded in chugwater about 3-4 yrs ago due to spring blizzard is enuf for me. thanks to wydot for all their efforts:-) "

earthling wrote on Feb 22, 2008 6:25 PM:

" Anyone who's been following the comments and dialog portion of Trib.com, and MORE IMPORTANTLY - can read and reason - knows I didn't post that flame on Feb 5th. But I'm not surprised it fooled you Tguide. Can't help but notice what day you posted your missive. Maybe you were sore because you'd be at Sidelines that night ... alone. Rather, how's the weather in Northern Virginia? Snow yet? "

Dm wrote on Feb 24, 2008 3:52 AM:

" Laramie; Have you ever tried to listen to the road reports on the telephone? What a joke they are. "3.6 miles west of BFE to 4.275 miles east of never never land you might have some snow and blowing snow......what the heck is this?? If I were from out of state and treid to listen to it I wouldn't have a clue where they were talking about! Why don't they just say from Laramie to Rawlins???? All this 3.5, 6.7 mile crum, then they use exits....."From exit 39 to exit 67.....Like who in Wyoming knows what the exit numbers are? I have lived here all my life and wanted to know what the conditions were from Casper to Cheyenne....by the time I was don't I haddn't a clue where in the heck they were talking about.....Do any of you know where exit 39 is exactly? What a waste of time and energy and worthless too. At least the internet had web cams and we can see what the conditions are! "

CasperMan wrote on Mar 15, 2008 4:55 PM:

" Global Warming?.... Perhaps the AGW (Anthropogenic Global Warming) believers haven't been up-to-date on the news. In many parts of the world they have had the worse winter in a long time. From China, to the U.S. My guess is the AGW believers can't understand the difference between Climate Change, and the fantastical claim of Global Warming. If CO2 was contributing to heat the planet as the AGW crowd claims, then this winter shouldn't have been one of the worse in a long time in many parts of the globe, such as being the worse winter for China in 100 years. What we are seeing is Climate Change, something which has been happening for the 4.5 billion years the Earth has existed.

Neither the AGW believers, nor anyone else alive on this Earth today can stop, or mitigate Climate Change. The AGW followers should just accept the fact that they have to adapt to the changes instead of believing "they can save the planet"....

As for thos epeople getting stucked because of winter, i feel for them, but it is going to happen. Winters in the north are not "a walk in the park in the middle of summer". "

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