I-80 Open to Local Traffic Despite Official Closure

Drivers with an Albany County license plate can now travel from Cheyenne to Laramie on I-80 westbound, even though the road is technically closed, according to County Commissioner Heber Richardson..

Albany County residents can drive up to the gate near Cheyenne and talk with the trooper on duty, who will allow them to travel home to Laramie if their vehicle bears an Albany County license plate, says Richardson.

“Actually the conditions between Cheyenne and Laramie are really great,” says Richardson, “but there’s no guarantee how long that will last.”

Interstate 80 westbound is shut down in both directions between Laramie and Walcott Jct. due to winter conditions, which has led to westbound traffic piling up in Laramie.  WYDOT closed I-80 westbound between Laramie and Cheyenne in order to keep Laramie from overflowing with travelers held up by the storm.

Richardson says one of his employees was stuck in Cheyenne, so he made a call to WYDOT to ask that Albany County residents be allowed to get home.

“I thought ‘if I’m going to do that work, I’m going to do it for everybody,” says Richardson.  “Anybody that has a bed to come home to, come on.”

The latest road conditions are available here.  Albany County residents are currently able to return home from Cheyenne, according to Richardson, but there's no telling how long that will last.

WYDOT was not immediately available to confirm the information provided by Richardson.