WYDOT Work Plans for Hwy 59

WYDOT has announced some of their plans for 2015. Here is the release...

As 2015 begins, The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) continues efforts to improve safety on Wyoming Highway 59, following many of the suggestions made at two public meetings held in late 2014.

WYO 59 is a north/south highway running approximately 110 miles from Douglas to Gillette.

Two public meetings were held in October; one in Wright and one in Douglas. At both meetings, members of the public voiced their concerns over increasing traffic volumes and provided many suggestions on how to improve safety along the highway.

In response, WYDOT has begun implementing a number of projects designed to address the public's concerns while ensuring safety and efficiency along WYO 59. There are two WYDOT districts serving WYO 59: District 2 and District 4. Together, they have combined to develop and implement several projects this year and in years to come.

• On Nov. 14, WYDOT erected new speed limit signs in Bill, reducing the speed limit from 65 mph through town to 50 mph.

• Also on Nov. 14, crews installed new signs reducing the speed to 50 mph from West Yellowstone (milepost 0.44) to the road closure gate at milepost 3.66 near Douglas.

• A "No Fuel for 75 Miles" sign was installed on WYO 59 at 4th Street in Douglas to remind motorists there is no fuel available until Wright.

• Reduced speed signage with flags have been installed on WYO 387 inbound into Wright.

• The name of Reno Junction was changed to Wright on the WYDOT web cameras and interactive maps. (wyoroad.info)

• Installed Truck Signing/Heavy Truck Traffic signs for the following roads in Campbell County:

1. County Subdivision Road South of Wright

2. Cosner Road

3. Sioux Ranch Road

4. Isenburger Ranch Road

• Two rumble strip projects are set for this year. The first will place rumble strips on the edge line of the highway where there currently are none from Gillette to the Campbell/Converse county line. Additionally, edge-line rumble strips will be placed from the county line south to Bill.

• The second project will add a center-line rumble strip from Gillette to the Campbell/Converse county line and from the county line south to Bill.

• An auxiliary lane project will be let to contract this spring adding passing lanes and turn lanes at various intersections between Douglas and Bill in Converse County. The project will be constructed this year.

The Wyoming Highway Patrol has also listened to concerns, placing more troopers on WYO 59, especially during peak traffic times and utilizing portable speed monitors at different locations on WYO 59, including Bill.

Not on WYO 59 but related to public meeting input, WYDOT will be installing a HAWK (High Intensity Activated Crosswalk Beacon) on Yellowstone at Wind River in Douglas at the existing crosswalk. The HAWK system is set to be activated next week. These overhead beacons will flash red when a pedestrian crosses the street, stopping traffic to allow the pedestrian to cross.

Additionally, Gov. Matt Mead has asked the State Legislature for $21 million in supplemental budget monies for the construction of passing lanes throughout the state with WYO 59 being a priority among the highways.