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WyDOT crews were working Tuesday evening to clear rock fall from the highway inside Wind River Canyon until nearly dark, but due to concerns for workers' safety, crews pulled out of the canyon and the highway was closed at each end of the …
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U.S. 20/Wyoming 789 reopened through Wind River Canyon Wednesday morning, but Wyoming Department of Transportation personnel are monitoring the situation for continuing rock fall.
WyDOT crews were working Tuesday evening to clear rock fall from the highway inside Wind River Canyon until nearly dark, but due to concerns for workers' safety, crews pulled out of the canyon and the highway was closed at each end of the canyon.
"A few more big rocks dropped in the canyon during the night, but rock fall slowed after the moisture changed to snow," said WyDOT District Engineer Shelby Carlson of Basin. "We will have the canyon manned continually in case rock fall activity increases throughout the day."
WyDOT plans to deploy digital-message signs today (Wednesday) on each end of Wind River Canyon to provide additional information for drivers.
WyDOT geologists will assess rock fall conditions inside Wind River Canyon later today.
This week's heavy rains and snow are causing the unstable slope conditions inside Wind River Canyon. Most of the current rock fall is about 8-10 miles south of Thermopolis in an area called Big Windy. Big Windy is the area where WyDOT placed a web camera several years ago that's visible at www.wyoroad.info.
