Reduced speeds, single lane closures start Wednesday on I-80 near Walcott Junction

Motorists will see reduced speeds along 6 miles of I-80 between Laramie and Rawlins that includes Walcott Junction starting on Wednesday, April 6 as crews prepare for construction in the westbound lane.

The Wyoming Department of Transportation will have crews installing slip ramps and crossovers at each end of the project, which will be between mile marker 233 and 240 in Carbon County.

During construction of the slip ramps and crossovers, there will be one lane closed in both the eastbound and westbound lanes during daylight hours only. In each direction, a single lane will remain open. Traffic will be slowed to 65 mph when crews aren’t present and to 45 mph when crews are present.

The slip ramps and crossovers are needed to divert traffic from the westbound lanes to a single lane in the eastbound lane while crews are working on the westbound lane later this spring and into summer. WYDOT anticipates switching traffic over to the eastbound lanes during the first week of May.

“While the westbound lane is closed, traffic will be head-to-head in the eastbound lane with a posted speed limit of 65 mph,” said Steven Sapp, WYDOT engineer. “Motorists need to be on the lookout for slow moving traffic and to make sure they obey posted speed limits to ensure safety in the construction zone.” 

WYDOT awarded the $6.3 million work on the westbound lane to McGarvin-Moberly Construction in October 2015. Previous pavement overlays will be removed, and the original concrete pavement will be cracked and seated to provide a better base for 5 inches of new asphalt pavement. Crews will also be doing bridge rehabilitation work. The contract completion date for this project is Oct. 31, 2016.