Seasonally-Closed Section of Snowy Range Scenic Byway Now Open

The seasonally-closed section of Wyoming 130 through the Snowy Range has officially reopened for the summer season, the Wyoming Department of Transportation announced Thursday.

According to WYDOT spokeswoman Andrea Staley, crews from Laramie and Saratoga, with some help from Casper and Cheyenne crews, started work on the 12-mile stretch in mid-May with a target reopening date of Memorial Day weekend.

Get our free mobile app

"Multiple rotary plows, snowcats, and other heavy equipment were used to clear drifts of snow as tall as 15 feet," Staley said in a release.

'Spring Snowstorms Can Still Happen'

Although the highway is now open to traffic, WYDOT says motorists, including bicyclists and motorcyclists, should stay alert as they travel through the mountain pass.

"Spring snowstorms can still happen at higher elevations," said WYDOT District 1 Area Maintenance Supervisor Eric Anderson.

"Conditions may be impassable overnight," he added. "Travelers should take their time and be aware there may still be road hazards."

WYDOT says maintenance crews will be in the area in the coming weeks to make repairs to items like guardrails and signposts damaged by snow, so drivers will want to be prepared to slow down for them as well.

WYO 130, which tops out at 10,800 feet, is one of several high-elevation mountain roads in Wyoming that closes annually in late fall when relatively low traffic and deep snow accumulations render plowing operations impractical.

Last year, the scenic byway opened for the summer season on May 25 and closed for the winter season on Nov. 26.