Wyoming Snow-Control Priorities Plan and Map Winter Wheelin' in Wyoming
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Wyoming snow-control priorities plan and map Winter Wheelin’ in Wyoming Traffic volumes determine snow-control priorities A cold-weather driving guide or 20 hours (IB) a day to maintain a bare roadway service is provided only during daylight When storms 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 storm 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 S O U T H 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 DA 89 433 16 16 Ten Sleep JOHNSON 16 Grand Teton 290 Worland 116 N at’l 431 196 59 KO 434 Newcastle 287 Park 50 16 171 120 W ASHAKIE 89 Wright 450 TA HO 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 IOBRAR 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 NEBRASKA 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 LINCOLN Farson 316 Cokeville 789 C A R B O N 511 Notify ALBAN 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 LARAMIE 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 UINT 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 COLORADO 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 season, 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.