WYDOT addressing safety concerns at Whitney Road intersection

October 30, 2018

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Transportation is continuing to examine the intersection of Whitney Road and US 30 in east Cheyenne following recent crashes and concerns from area residents.

WYDOT is taking active measures to address those concerns and raise driver awareness at this intersection.

On Monday, WYDOT crews added white “stop bars” on Whitney Road to draw drivers’ attention to the required stop at Whitney and US 30. Later this week, WYDOT will install larger stop signs with red flashing beacons on Whitney Road. Intersection warning signs will also be installed on U.S. 30 alerting motorists of the approaching intersection.

Information being considered by WYDOT includes vehicle speeds, traffic counts, road geometry, proximity to other intersections, crash rates, and other variables.

From 2013 through 2017, there were 12 crashes at the intersection. Of those, three resulted in injury, and none were fatal. 

WYDOT has reports of six crashes in 2018. There were fatalities in two of these crashes that were the result of a vehicle making a left hand turn from northbound Whitney Road to westbound US 30 and pulling in front of an eastbound vehicle on US 30.

“We have families, and tragedies like these affect us deeply,” District Engineer Tom DeHoff said. “We take safety seriously and we are making additional modifications to that intersection. Our team has many factors to consider and must make decisions based on scientific and site-specific data that are consistent with the nationally recognized standards in highway safety.”

Residents in the area have asked WYDOT to consider a reduction in speed limit on US 30 or the installation of a traffic signal.

Last week, WYDOT personnel conducted a safety analysis on U.S. 30 at Whitney Road. The analysis found that a majority of drivers were driving at the speed limit. The study showed a narrow band or range of vehicle speeds on US 30. This was positive data for WYDOT traffic engineers.

“There is a higher chance for accidents if the speeds vary,” said Joel Meena, the state Traffic engineer. “This uniform speed allows drivers to properly select gaps in traffic before entering the intersection.”

The installation of a traffic signal requires analyzing several measures, including vehicles counts at various points throughout the day, pedestrian counts, crash experience, and the roadway network, among other factors. Without important data, a traffic signal can result in more frequent and severe accidents.

For these reasons, a speed limit reduction on US 30 or the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of Whitney and US 30 are not recommended at this time. WYDOT will closely monitor the safety of this intersection while the designs for two long-term projects are being completed.  

A related project to relocate the intersection of Dell Range and US 30 in 2022 continues to move forward. This project will move the intersection about a quarter mile to the west from its existing location. The project will also include improvements to Whitney Road.

In 2024, WYDOT has a planned project that would expand the current two-lane section of US 30 to five lanes (four travel lanes and a left turn lane) from the existing four-lane section to the Union Pacific Railroad bridge near Archer.

Both of these projects will result in changes to traffic patterns on US 30. Traffic signals or speed limit changes will be considered, included in the safety analysis and modified as necessary. 

For information about this news release, contact WYDOT District 1 public information specialist Matt Murphy at (307) 745-2142.