Rest area among ten to be closed

Brad Marchant, Area Maintenance Crew Supervisor, shed light last week on the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s (WYDOT) decision to close ten rest areas across the state. Two of those rest areas are located in Crook County; one in Sundance, and the other in Moorcroft.

Marchant presented a letter to the Sundance City Council written by Scott Taylor, District Engineer, that explained WYDOT “has been forced to make difficult decisions during these times of budgetary uncertainty”. The choice has been made strategically and carefully, according to the letter, but is still a decision to be regretted.

“We selected rest area locations to cause as little hardship to the traveling public as possible. For example, many of the identified rest areas are within or near communities which offer 24-hour service to motorists,” says the letter. “Others are facilities which receive relatively low use and are reasonably close to a location with services.”

The closure is essentially a way to make dollar savings that will allow WYDOT to preserve its most-needed public assets. Marchant estimated the savings would total around $800,000.

Basic maintenance will continue after the rest areas close on June 15 and personnel will be on hand until June 30 as they clean and physically close down the facilities. But while mowing, weeding and other necessary maintenance will continue, the rest areas and associated parking lots will be closed to the public.

Marchant noted that the city does have the option to lease the facility in Sundance, if it desires, and can contact WYDOT to reach an agreement over cost and maintenance expectations.

As well as the two local rest areas, closures will include Lusk on U.S. 18, Guernsey on U.S. 26, Greybull and Upton on U.S. 16, Star Valley on U.S. 89, Ft. Steel on I-80 and Orin Junction and Chugwater on I-25.