Road closures in winter time (Cheyenne, Laramie: car, interstate, team)

[jdavid93225]

Originally Posted by NVDave

When driving on roads in Wyoming, I find it both amusing and infuriating how many people from places like California, Texas and Utah go down a snow-packed road at 60+ MPH into visibility of 50 feet or less.

If you feel that way about driving in Wyoming, you should try driving in those other states you mentioned!

Having driven extensively in California, regularly in Utah, and occasionally in Texas, I can relate to your responses to how the folks from these states drive. Last year, when I was returning to California from Colorado, a pretty good storm hit while I was in Utah. In places, I was driving my 4wd pickup (with a shell weighing down the back wheels) at about 50 to 55 mph, and most of the locals were flying past me. I've been driving in snow every year since the first year I had a license, and I understand how easy it is to lose control. I generally drive about as fast as I am comfortable doing, and I have a capable vehicle. I was shocked at how fast many of these folks were driving in Utah.

In California, it's even worse when there's a snowstorm, at least in the area where I live. Most of the people traveling through my area have never seen snow, let alone driven in it. Unfortunately, they cause traffic snarls when they spin out and lose control, backing traffic up very quickly. When the semis have to stop because of this, they can't get moving again on the ice, and things just get worse from there. This is partly why the CHP shuts down the freeway just about every time it snows.

[Kristynwy]

Really depends on the winters too... Some winters we get pounded with snow and low temps.. and then other winters are pretty mild snow, and then heavy spring...

Always something different so ya never know. But It can snow any time of the year here, I have heard stories of during the 4th of July lol although that is rare, but not uncommon.

[WyoNewk]

I **think** that July 4th snow storm probably refers to mountain storms. I remember the first year or two I lived in Gillette, Bear Lodge got a good snow storm on July 4th. And I got into a snow storm while hiking in the Bighorns in mid-August several years ago -- our "tents" were garbage bags. I think I've seen it snow in the Bighorns every month of the year, but I've never seen it snow in Gillette in June, July or August. All other months, yes.

[rhwebb]

I have a follow up question to this discussion, because my family is probably going to be moving out to Cheyenne within the next few months from St. Louis, MO. When they close the highway, how do you get around? I don't mean to sound stupid, but I am assuming that if the highway is closed, the side roads would be just as bad if not worse???

[Dinowy]

Originally Posted by rhwebb

When they close the highway, how do you get around? I don't mean to sound stupid, but I am assuming that if the highway is closed, the side roads would be just as bad if not worse???

You don't . JK, sorta, typically roads in town will be open. Depending on the storm it might not be a real good idea to go out unless you have to, but roads around town should be open. Up here in Sheridan we have Emergency Snow Routes, not sure if Cheyenne has anything like that but they're basically the main thoroughfares that are at the top of the list for being kept clear by the city crews, and then all the smaller secondary residential streets and such are plowed after them. I can only remember once last year they all out shut down all city streets to anybody that wasn't emergency personnel. That's just speaking from experience up here in Sheridan, which isn't Cheyenne. You have city crews though which are employed by the city and do nothing but work on the city streets [in winter this is usually dealing with snow].

If you're traveling on county roads, its quite possible for them to be snowed shut for a few days. We used to live past the end of a county road (county turned into private for mile and a half until it ended at our house), every winter there usually were a few times we were snowed in for a day or two until they could manage to bust open our county road.

When they close the interstates more often than not you're just stuck in a town, depending on the storm often all routes in and out of a town are closed.

[sunsprit]

Originally Posted by rhwebb

I have a follow up question to this discussion, because my family is probably going to be moving out to Cheyenne within the next few months from St. Louis, MO. When they close the highway, how do you get around? I don't mean to sound stupid, but I am assuming that if the highway is closed, the side roads would be just as bad if not worse???

It all depends ...

The City of Cheyenne does have "snow routes", which are the main thoroughfares in town and the first to get plowed to allow traffic in town. Typically, they'll post an "advisory" for "no unecessary travel" in the area, but it's not binding ... as local conditions may be better or worse than other areas. The snowfall/snowdrifts can vary quite a bit in the region, depending upon so many local microclimate activities ...

When the interstate is shut down, that means just that. It's closed to traffic. Howver, the local frontage roads may or may not be in as bad a shape, and the local county roads may ... or may not ... be passable. Again, a lot depends upon the localized severity of the storm in progress and it's aftermath. The interstate can be shut down due to poor visibility, slick surfaces and high winds, and a number of accidents present as opposed to being impassable due to conditions, not because it's so snowed over that it's impassable.

Sometimes they'll close all the roads ... we had company coming in for Thanksgiving a couple of years back, and they made it to the truckstop at our I-80 exit, and the sheriff's deputies told everyone there that all the roads were closed and to stay put. Our friends spent two days stranded at the truckstop before being allowed to travel again, 12 miles from our place. I've been at the exit in a similar "roads closed" situation and the deputy saw that I was a local and allowed me to go on ... at my own risk ... to get home to take care of my livestock. My little subie wagon had no difficulty making it home, but I wasn't able to drive the most direct route ... I had to go around a few extra miles here and there to by-pass the drifted in places on the roads, and have had to back out a few hundred yards to find a place to turn around. It takes a bit of patience and determination to make it home in these conditions .... If you go off the road or otherwise get stuck, the only help you'll be able to get is the closest neighbors to you at the time, who may or may not be able to assist you ....

If you are living in the city, then it's generally not such a problem, although when the highways are shut down, it's noticeable when the grocery stores and other suppliers cannot get shipments in to the stores after a couple of days. Best to plan on having "snow days" at home and being stocked up and able to entertain yourself until travel returns to normal.

Be aware that the severity of conditions can be very localized. I've had days in Cheyenne when the snowstorm got serious, and I was concerned about the possible difficulty of getting home. Cut short my business in town, and headed home in a blinding storm. A couple of miles East of town, and the storm seems a lot less, a few miles further, and it's just a light snow amount, and by the time I get to my exit ... the storm isn't even there. We've been dissappointed more than once that we weren't getting any moisture on our fields when Cheyenne (25 miles away) was getting hammered, and our friends who live up Happy Jack or further West were getting snowed in with 4-5-6' drifts .... and didn't need any more moisture. We've had times when a neighbor, just a mile or two North or South of us ... called to ask how we were enjoying all the rain (or snowfall) on our place, and we weren't getting a drop or but a few snowflakes while they were in a blinding blizzard.

[ElkHunter]

I used to drive for the Railroad hauling railroaders to their trains. 2 wheel drive, rear wheel mini van.

When they'd close the interstate, the secondary roads were still open so I'd take them from Sheridan to Gillette, or Sheridan to Laurel Mt, or Foresythe Mt.

But up here in Sheridan most of the secondary highways are down in valleys. The interstate would be closed due to visibility, not snow accumulation. So running the secondary roads was not a problem.

Last year, as mentioned above, the city shut down to Emergency Vehicles only. I didn't know that, they hadn't shut it down when I left the house. I have no radio in the pickup. So I went into town, shopped at Wal-Mart, went to Shiptons, then over to Home Depot, and then stopped by Sheridan Commercial and then went home. After I got home I found out the roads were closed to Emergency Vehicles Only. The point is, I didn't have any problems getting around. I have 4 wheel drive, but that day I never even locked in my hubs. I run around in 2 wheel drive.

So a person can get around "Most" of the time. Unless you have reason to run down to the next town, there's no reason to jump on the Interstate and normally, city is open and plowed.

[WyoNewk]

Highway 59 was closed south of Gillette to Wright for four hours this morning -- due to several accidents. Accidents and stuck vehicles will shut down a highway pretty quickly, even though it may not have much snow on it.

[rhwebb]

Thanks for the info. We have only been there once so far, and with all the driving while looking at houses, and exploring, it seemed like we were on I-80 the most, so I guess I need to get to know my way around to make it through town on the side roads!

[MRVphotog]

Road closures didn't stop the New Mexico team from getting to the game yesterday.

"The New Mexico team, which stayed Friday night 50 miles away in Cheyenne, had to be escorted to Laramie over a closed Interstate 80 by two snowplows and a Wyoming Highway Patrol car Saturday morning to make it to the game"