-control priorities plan and map Wheelin’

in Wyoming volumes determine snow-control priorities

A cold- driving guide or 20 hours (IB) a day to maintain a bare roadway service is provided only during daylight When hit, WYDOT main- WYDOT crews have more than 400 conventional for driving safely at reasonable speeds. hours. Level IIIB state highways receive Includes statewide snow-control tenance crews are on the road applying a snow plows across the state and 18 snow-blowing minimum levels of service as resources be- priority plan salt-sand mixture to improve traction and rotary plows they can throw into the battle. Medium volume (II) service is provided on come available. plowing when needed. lesser-used arterial routes. The goal is to keep the At that point, the department’s statewide snow-re- roadway passable for drivers who are taking rea- During severe storms, scheduling depends Using information provided by a network moval plan goes into effect. It establishes sanding sonable winter driving precautions, although with on available personnel and equipment. of weather monitoring sensors in the road and plowing priorities for the system of interstate, less emphasis on keeping the pavement bare. Roads tagged for high volume service will surface at remote locations and a growing arterial and collector routes, based on the relative be plowed first; medium and low volume network of Web camera views, maintenance amounts of traffic the highways carry. Four levels Low volume (IIIA, IIIB) service generally in- highways will be handled as soon as pos- crews can observe conditions and be on the of service have been established. volves other less-traveled minor arterial and col- sible thereafter. scene when a begins, putting down a lector routes and is provided after high-volume timely application of sand-salt mixture and High volume (IA, IB) service is provided on in- and medium-volume routes have been cleared, As bad weather clears, cleanup is undertak- in some cases liquid deicers to forestall the terstates and principal arterial and urban routes. with exceptions sometimes made for routes that en only after all roads have been provided accumulation of ice and snow. If necessary, crews will work up to 24 hours (IA) carry school buses or similar traffic. Low-volume with their designated levels of service.

Service-level classifications (Subject to change)

High volume IA Medium volume II Low volume IIIA High volume IB Closed IV Low volume IIIB Not plowed by WYDOT

MONT ANA 191 Mammoth Tower Jct. 87 90 212 Hot 212 37 112 Springs 295 114 336 S H E R I D A N 59 Dayton 296 C R O O K Ye llow stone 331 Sheridan Devils Madison Powell 14A 24 Jct. Canyon 294 Lovell Burgess 16 Tower H T U O S Norris 14 Hulett 120 335 Nat’l 111 B I G H O R N Jct. Mon. 14A 32 C A M P B E L L 24 Lake 14 N at’l Cody 789 14 14 194 Ucross 14 Sundance 90 Old 20 16 16 Faithful 14 16 14 Greybull West Park Buffalo Thumb 30 Basin Gillette Roads in Manderson 116 585 P A R K 120 Moorcroft 85 Yellowstone 31 14 16 and Grand 87 Meeteetse 789 90 A D 89 433 16 16 Ten Sleep JOHNSON 16 Grand Teton 290 Worland 116

N at’l 431 196 59 O K 434 Newcastle 287 Park 50 16 171 120 W A S H A K I E 89 Wright

450 A T H O T S P R I N G S 191 85 Kaycee Moose Reno 170 172 192 26 190 Jct. W E S T O N

AHO T E T O N Thermopolis 387 390 191 Dubois 25 Jackson

ID Mule Creek Jct. 287 189 Hoback 789 Midwest 85 18 Jct. 20 26 26 259 Shoshoni 59 N I O B R A R A 134 Diversion Dam Jct. N A T R O N A 89 191 C O N V E R S E Alpine 287 132 26 26 Motorists in Wyoming can call 511 for timely road 189 352 Ft. Washakie Riverton 20 136 Glenrock condition information. Those outside Wyoming can 354 dial 888-WYO-ROAD (888-996-7623). Manville Lusk Daniel Pinedale 789 135 CASPER Douglas Lander 25 18 191 96 20 20 Afton 131 F R E M O N T The 511 Web site at www.wyoroad.info provides S U B L E T T E 353 91 270 A K S A R B E N a list of road closures and advisories, Web camera Marbleton 28 287 319 85 351 789 220 Glendo views of actual conditions, weather sensor readings, 89 350 Big Piney 94 G O S H E N P L A T T E Ft. a map depicting road and atmospheric conditions 487 189 Muddy Gap Guernsey around the state and text listings of those conditions 191 25 Laramie 77 26 Lingle 89 87 by highway section. La Barge 320 28 Torrington 26 L I N C O L N Farson 316 Cokeville 789 C A R B O N 511 Notify A L B A N Y Wheatland 92 28 Hanna 30 287 30 Commuters can subscribe to receive automatic S W E E T W AT E R 85 Medicine 240 191 Sinclair e-mail and text notifications of highway clo- Superior Bow Rock River 34 313 Point of Rocks Chugwater sures, reopenings and travel advisories on spe- Kemmerer 30 372 Rawlins 80 151 189 30 30 McFadden cific highway sections through the 511 Notify 71

AH 80 374 130 Bosler 25 service. You can find out more about the ser- Wamsutter 211 412 Saratoga 30 vice and sign up for it online at www.wyoroad. Rock Springs 87 L A R A M I E 215 UT Green River info/511/511NotifyAnnouncement. Ft. Bridger 80 Laramie 85 130 CHEYENNE Lyman 430 789 Riverside Centennial 189 191 530 Encampment 30 230 80 Pine WYDOT Authorized Travel Evanston 230 217 214 70 287 80 Bluffs Motorists also can apply for authorization for local U I N T A 414 Baggs 10 25 85 travel on specific closed highway sections if the Mountain View problem necessitating the closure lies beyond their destination. More information on the WAT program UT AH is available at wat.wyoroad.info/wat. First-aid tips

Winter Wheelin’ in Wyoming Cold weather, especially when endured for prolonged periods, can cause a variety of medi- cal problems. The most common are:

Frostbite — Frostbite means skin tissue is inter storms strike quickly across Wyo- It includes a list of supplies motorists should W freezing or has frozen and contains ice crystals. ming’s high plains and mountains. When they carry with them through the winter , and It appears as flushed skin turning white or yel- do, driving conditions can deteriorate rapidly offers pointers for driving on snowy and icy lowish. It is important to know frostbite victims and become very challenging. Drivers must be highways. It also provides tips for motorists don’t necessarily feel cold. prepared, cautious and patient to get safely to who find themselves stranded in a storm. their destinations in those conditions. The snow-control priorities plan and map in- Rapidly rewarm a frostbitten area by immers- This brochure provides information on prepar- cluded show what level of snow-removal ser- ing in very warm (102- to 108-degree) water, by ing vehicles for a typical winter trip in Wyo- vice is provided on each highway segment in warm body contact or by wrapping in blankets, ming and drive safely in storms. the state. coats or clothing.

Hypothermia — Hypothermia is the excessive Know and obey the law loss of body heat and can be diagnosed by a victim’s numbness, shivering and drowsiness.

Chain law Road Closures To prevent hypothermia, wear layered clothing Wyoming’s chain law includes two levels of restrictions that can be implemented on specific highway sections when WYDOT, the Highway Patrol, police and sheriffs have au- made of wool, silk or a synthetic material such conditions warrant. thority to close roads whenever they consider it necessary as polyester for greater insulation and protec- for public health or safety. During the winter, this means tion from exposure. Avoid cotton garments. Level 1 highways can be closed due to crashes or because of ice, Be prepared before the storms arrive When conditions are hazardous, travel may be restricted to: snow or poor visibility. Remember, although To treat, gradually rewarm the victim using l Vehicles equipped with tire chains; conditions may be favorable at the closure gate, conditions l Vehicles with adequate snow tires; can be much different a few miles down the road. any available external heat source, such as the and turn signals. Keep all lights free of ice and snow, l All-wheel-drive vehicles; or warm body of another. Unless hypothermia is ecause winter storms can develop quickly in Wyo- B and use low beams when driving through blowing snow. l Necessary emergency vehicles and snowplows. Violating a road closure carries a penalty of up to a $750 ming, it’s wise to be prepared. severe, give the victim hot, nonalcoholic bever- fine and 30 days in jail. However, the real danger of run- ages. Handle a victim with care. They can be Subzero temperatures are common in wintertime Wyo- Level 2 ning a road closure gate is being injured in a crash or get- Make sure your car is running smoothly and check the in shock, and shock increases the potential for ming. Familiarize yourself with the procedure recom- When conditions are extremely hazardous, travel can be ting stranded and facing the risks of hypothermia or even brakes. Inflate your tires to the pressure recommended mended in your vehicle owner’s manual for starting restricted to: freezing to death. heartbeat irregularities. by the vehicle and tire manufacturers. Letting air out of the engine in such adverse conditions. The manual also l Vehicles equipped with tire chains; tires increases wear and doesn’t improve traction. Put- should include recommendations for warming up the l All-wheel-drive vehicles equipped with adequate ting sand bags or concrete blocks in the trunk or bed of engine, but some warm-up may also be needed to de- mud and snow or all-weather rated tires; or a pickup doesn’t necessarily increase traction, and may frost the windshield before you get on the road. l Necessary emergency vehicles and snowplows. increase the danger of skidding, particularly if it is not

distributed evenly and secured in place. Remember to clean snow off your shoes before you get Commercial vehicles must have chains on at least two drive in the vehicle. Snow on your shoes can make your ac- wheels at opposite ends of the same drive axle. Replace old windshield wiper blades and make sure celerator and brake pedals slippery, creating a safety your windshield cleaning fluid has antifreeze. Top off hazard. Do not stop in the driving lane to install or remove chains! your fuel tank often. Running out of fuel is a calamity that’s easy to avoid. Don’t carry filled portable gasoline Seat belts save lives, but only if they are used. About 70 Penalties for violations: containers. They increase the chance of explosion in a percent of those killed on Wyoming roads each year are l $250 for violating the travel restriction; or collision. not wearing seat belts. Be sure to fasten seat belts and l $750 for a violation that results in a road closure. put children in proper safety restraints before going any- Make sure the oil and other fluids are full. Check lights where, no matter how short the trip.

In your trunk ... Ice and snow can make driving a challenge Before traveling any significant distance in win- tertime Wyoming, motorists should make sure If you encounter ice or snow on the road, slow down. following distance, allow the vehicle ahead to pass a land- they have the following items in their vehicles: Touch your brake pedal to test your vehicle’s traction under mark, and then count the seconds until you pass the same the conditions. Drive slowly and in full control of your ve- landmark. If you reach the landmark before four seconds, l Tire chains of the proper size; hicle. you are following too closely. l A shovel and small bag of sand or kitty litter Be alert for ice on bridges, overpasses and in shaded Locked wheels and skids result when drivers jam on con- to provide traction if your vehicle gets stuck; areas where it can remain even after the sun comes out and ventional brakes. Pumping those brakes often is required to l A snow brush and ice scraper; temperatures warm. Black ice is invisible on the road, so stop safely and smoothly in slippery conditions. If your l A can of deicer for frozen door locks and always watch for sudden changes in road-surface con- vehicle has antilock brakes, they will do the pumping wiper blades; Geographic variety affects winter driving ditions. There may be sharp transitions on the pave- automatically, so firm, steady pressure on the brake l Blankets or sleeping bags; ment, from merely wet, to extremely icy. These pedal will bring your vehicle to the quickest l Water and dehydrated foods, in case changes occur most frequently on bridge stop. you get stranded for an extended period; East-West highways Driving through central Wyoming on US 26-287, you’ll decks, overpasses, high fills, in deep cuts, Keeping your speed down on a slippery l East-west transcontinental routes traverse Wyoming in the cross Togwotee Pass at an elevation of 9,658 feet. There is near snow fences or at the end of guard- road will mean stopping won’t take as An emergency first-aid kit well stocked north, central and southern portions of the state. snow on the road throughout most of the winter, so drivers are rails or median barriers. Thawing long, and the risk of skidding will be with medical supplies and bandages; Interstate 80 crosses southern Wyoming’s high plains, where advised to slow down, stay alert and proceed with caution. temperatures can leave a thin film reduced. If you begin to skid, gen- l Flares and flashlights for nighttime winter wind is frequent and often causes ground and of water over melting ice, making it tly turn into the skid and ease your emergencies; whiteout conditions. North-South highways even more hazardous. foot off the accelerator until you l Booster cables in case of a dead battery. The best option is to wait those out in the nearest town. Four principal north-south routes cross Wyoming. Because Getting your vehicle moving on regain control. However, if you are caught in a ground , stay calm, the prevailing wind is from the west, drivers should be aware snow and ice requires pointing front Icy roads topped by a blowing drive slowly and watch for other vehicles. Try your best to of strong crosswinds and limited visibility during storms on wheels straight ahead and carefully ac- ground blizzard make for double trouble. keep going, but, if you must stop, make sure you’re well off these roads. celerating. Using first gear in a standard trans- Slow down, but keep moving and don’t the road to avoid being hit from behind. between Cheyenne and Buffalo crosses a wide mission or low in an automatic can give you too panic. Don’t do anything quickly. Any steering Although I-80 primarily crosses long, flat expanses of variety of country, ranging from hills and valleys to vast prai- much power, causing wheels to spin. Rely on second or braking should be gentle and gradual. If you plains, it’s the highest section of I-80 in the nation, reaching ries. US 85 from Cheyenne to the South Dakota border crosses gear or “drive” in an automatic, for safer starts. lose your bearings, lower the window and look for the 8,640 feet in elevation at the summit between Cheyenne and country very similar to I-25, but, because it is primarily a two- Four-wheel-drive and front-wheel-drive vehicles gener- center stripe or the edge of the road to determine where Laramie. Strong winds and blizzards are possibilities. In the lane road and not a divided highway, it requires even greater ally allow better traction on snow and ice, but they have you are. west, between and Evanston, there is a series of driving attention during bad weather. limitations. Particularly in the case of front-wheel-drive Most of all, be patient when driving on ice or snow. If the hills known as the Three Sisters that can become slick during There are broad plains in the Rawlins, Riverton and Casper vehicles, skids can easily result when downshifting too vehicle in front of you spins out on an icy hill, stay in line. storms. areas. Canyon roads, hills and broad plains in the Big Horn quickly. A quick release of the accelerator pedal also can Wait for a snowplow to clear the way. You’ll get through In the north, US 14 and US 16 cross the Big Horn Mountains Basin extend from Thermopolis to Lovell, Powell and Cody. result in engine compression that may stop the drive wheels much quicker. at above 9,000 feet. There are many curves and relatively steep Harsh driving conditions can exist across all these areas. and cause a skid. Four-wheel-drive vehicles with a high If you stop to help someone who has slid off the road or grades. Expect to encounter snow and ice on the road. Adjust On US 89 in western Wyoming, there is a high mountain center of gravity are more likely to roll during a skid. been in a crash due to ice, be careful. Park well away, and, your driving accordingly, and make sure you have tire chains pass between Cokeville and Alpine. US 189-191 passes Whatever your vehicle type, it will take longer to stop. as you help, be alert and ready to get out of the way should and know how to use them. through in a deep canyon between Daniel and Hoback Junc- Increase your following distances to at least four seconds anyone else lose control of their vehicle at the same icy Be alert to the possibility of wildlife on the road. Many ani- tion. on WYO 28 between Farson and Lander between you and the vehicle in front of you. To adjust your location. WYDOT Public Affairs Office October 2011 mals are attracted to the warmth of roads in winter. reaches 7,550 feet in elevation.