Road closures essential for public safety

While WYDOT works around the clock to keep Wyoming’s roadways open, closures are necessary for public safety.

And while closures may be a source of frustration for the traveling public, Wyoming Highway Patrol Lt. David Wagener said it comes down to the simple fact that the road is impassable. Closures may be because of winter conditions but also because of a crash or even a hazardous materials spill, so while winter months are when most closures take place, the need to close the road extends into the summer.

“Conditions where the gate is at might be clear and dry, the weather is nice the roads are favorable, but that doesn’t mean that 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 miles further down that roadway, weather is completely different,” Wagener said. “You can’t see. There’s huge drifts. There might be a bunch of crashes blocking the highway.”

A crash during a recent storm that involved 17 vehicles led to an extended road closure. While the event was near Evanston, roads had to be closed into Nebraska.

“Those gates are placed in areas of safety so that, one, you can turn around and get to a location of safety where you’re going to have amenities available for lodging, fuel and food,” he said.

If motorists run the gates they risk getting stuck or causing a crash. Plow drivers maintaining the roads don’t expect any traffic on a closed road and may be plowing into traffic to be efficient. If conditions are bad enough, they might not see a passenger vehicle until it is too late.

Beyond safety concerns, drivers who go around road closure gates can be ticketed $420 or more if they cause a crash.

“They’re closed for a reason,” Wagener said. “We don’t just close them for fun. We also understand that keeping highways open is very important. But at the same time it’s a fine balance of keeping people safe and keeping the roads open.”