WYDOT seeks grant for feasibility study of alternative routes of Wind River Canyon Corridor

The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) is applying for a two-year feasibility study to explore the possibility of alternative routes into and out of the Big Horn Basin, which would be a redundancy for the traffic through Wind River Canyon.

This study will guide WYDOT’s resilience planning decision for the Wind River Corridor responding to various closure and travel delay risks it frequently faces, from rockfalls and landslides, to inclement weather and crashes.

According to WYDOT officials, “Specifically, the Feasibility Study will focus on US Highway 20/State Highway 789, commonly referred to as the Wind River Canyon Corridor of the Wind River Canyon Scenic Byway, which provides crucial north-south access to many important destinations, including the Wind River Reservation, nearby rural communities, multiple state parks, and Yellowstone National Park.”

“Unfortunately, the Wind River Corridor is the most at-risk corridor for rock falls and landslides in the state. These natural hazards, compounded by winter weather, challenging road geometry and tunnels that constrict movement, threaten the corridor’s resilience as well as the connectivity and access it provides to the Wind River Reservation, nearby communities, and freight and tourist mobility.”

Cody Beers, WYDOT Senior Public Relations Specialist for District Five in Riverton, said, “This feasibility study will assess WYDOT in finding ways to improve our highway system in central Wyoming, both from a resiliency standpoint and a reliability standpoint. We hope to reduce crashes, delays and closure. That’s one of the main outcomes of the study.” 

Beers continued and said, “Additionally, identifying a better alternate route could help improve redundancy with freight and tourism movements, as well as for local travelers. It’s an efficient alternate route to the highway to be identified. It would improve travel time, and reliability compared to existing alternate routes, as well as fuel and cost savings for free movement and other travelers.”

Beers further explained, “When the corridor is closed, it faces travel time delays. But basically, we want to look at the canyon, find more ways to reduce crashes, delays and closures. And then hopefully we can identify the best alternate route to give us a redundant route into and out of the Big Horn Basin. Because right now, if you want to, if there’s a closure in Wind River Canyon, it effectively shuts down from the bypass.” 

There are other options for travel, according to Beers, but they are not always possible due to the weather and winter seasons. Beers said, “The only way to get out of the basin to the south is to go through Yellowstone, which is not very efficient because it’s closed for about seven, eight months a year or you can go over Powder River pass from Ten Sleep to Buffalo. Those are the two ways to get out of the Big Horn Basin. Or get into the Big Horn Basin from the south. If the Wind River Canyon is closed and it does close, probably a handful of times every year. Since I’ve been with WYDOT, which is 20-plus years, we had one closure that lasted the better part of a week. The big rains of five to eight inches of rain hit Wind River Canyon on May 24-27, 2015, during Memorial Day weekend.”

Regarding the feasibility study for the alternative, redundant route, Beers said, “We’re applying for the money and asking for them to fund 90% of the grant, $1.62 million. And then, WYDOT’s portion would be 10%. For the 10 percent match, or non-federal funds, WYDOT will leverage the Wyoming State Match Fund. The non-federal funds from the Wyoming State Match Fund must be used to match federal grant funds. The feasibility study will take approximately two years to complete, accommodating ample public outreach and WYDOT reviews before publishing the final version.”

During the March Hot Springs County Travel & Tourism board meeting, they signed a letter of support regarding this study application.