FYI, just in case you were thinking of a picnic in the Snowies. Captions
at the bottom of this email describe where these were taken but here is
the District Maintenance Engineer's quote: "Photo 06 - WYDOT maintenance
engineer, Tim McGary, steps over an Open Range road sign at Libby Flats
on WYO 130. McGary, who has been coming up to check snow levels on the
roadway for 20 years, called this the most dramatic representation of
the amount of snowfall on the range this spring. Normally this area is
scoured clear to the roadway surface by the wind."
May 2, 2011
WYDOT officials in southeast Wyoming are preparing this week for the
most challenging high country snow removal campaign in decades.
Full operations including the rotary plows, dozers, and snowcats needed
to open WYO 130 between Centennial and Saratoga are scheduled to begin
on May 9. This is a week earlier than usual to get a head start on snow
pack in the Snowy Range currently averaging 193 percent of normal and
rising from ongoing precipitation and consistently cold temperatures.
A snowmobile trip up the roadway by WYDOT officials on April 27 revealed
six feet of snow on Libby Flats which is an area that is historically
swept clear by the wind. The outhouse by Lake Marie is buried to the
roof pipes. Another location on WYO 130 is blocked by a 40 yard drift
rising 25 feet above the roadway.
On the Saratoga side, WYO 130 is blocked with snow five miles lower than
experienced in years past.
"We're gearing up and we'll give it all the resources we can afford to
get it open by the traditional Memorial Day weekend," said WYDOT
District 1 engineer, Jay Gould.
He added, however, that the news is not good if the snow melts quickly.
Areas in lower elevations that experience significant flooding will
require WYDOT equipment and crews to pull from the range and dispatch to
protect life and property. This will take precedence over opening the
roadway.
Gould says that an immediate area of concern is the town of Baggs. Town
officials last week requested assistance in bolstering their dike
system. Runoff forecasts are high for the Little Snake River and WYDOT
manpower from Rawlins will be helping the local crew and volunteers in
adding height to the levee. WYDOT trucks are hauling sand to the state
penitentiary for inmates to fill.
Last year, flooding occurred in the Medicine Bow and Laramie areas from
less snow pack than exists now. Gould says that temporary traffic
control will be implemented as needed down in Baggs and all other areas
until flooding impact is abated. He says that close attention is being
paid to the bridge over the Laramie River adjacent to Bosler.
Motorists in south-central Wyoming are strongly encouraged to check road
conditions before traveling this spring. Traditionally, the highest
water is seen in the first couple weeks of June although with the very
steep snow pack levels in the high country this year, road surface
impacts may occur earlier and last longer.
The clearing of WYO 70 over Battle Pass between Baggs and Encampment
will begin after WYO 130 is opened.
For current road conditions, please phone 511 or visit
www.wyoroad.info/highway/conditions/dist1.html
Photo cutlines are as follows:
01 - A rotary skid steer clears snow at the Green Rock Campground area
on the west side of Green Rock on WYO 130. Daily rotary plow operations
have been required for weeks to keep one lane of road open here to get
equipment back and forth. The snow walls are estimated at ten feet.
02 - WYDOT maintenance engineer, Tim McGary, steps over an Open Range
road sign at Libby Flats on WYO 130. McGary, who has been coming up to
check snow levels on the roadway for 20 years, called this the most
dramatic representation of the amount of snowfall on the range this
spring. Normally this area is scoured clear to the roadway surface by
the wind.
at the bottom of this email describe where these were taken but here is
the District Maintenance Engineer's quote: "Photo 06 - WYDOT maintenance
engineer, Tim McGary, steps over an Open Range road sign at Libby Flats
on WYO 130. McGary, who has been coming up to check snow levels on the
roadway for 20 years, called this the most dramatic representation of
the amount of snowfall on the range this spring. Normally this area is
scoured clear to the roadway surface by the wind."
May 2, 2011
WYDOT officials in southeast Wyoming are preparing this week for the
most challenging high country snow removal campaign in decades.
Full operations including the rotary plows, dozers, and snowcats needed
to open WYO 130 between Centennial and Saratoga are scheduled to begin
on May 9. This is a week earlier than usual to get a head start on snow
pack in the Snowy Range currently averaging 193 percent of normal and
rising from ongoing precipitation and consistently cold temperatures.
A snowmobile trip up the roadway by WYDOT officials on April 27 revealed
six feet of snow on Libby Flats which is an area that is historically
swept clear by the wind. The outhouse by Lake Marie is buried to the
roof pipes. Another location on WYO 130 is blocked by a 40 yard drift
rising 25 feet above the roadway.
On the Saratoga side, WYO 130 is blocked with snow five miles lower than
experienced in years past.
"We're gearing up and we'll give it all the resources we can afford to
get it open by the traditional Memorial Day weekend," said WYDOT
District 1 engineer, Jay Gould.
He added, however, that the news is not good if the snow melts quickly.
Areas in lower elevations that experience significant flooding will
require WYDOT equipment and crews to pull from the range and dispatch to
protect life and property. This will take precedence over opening the
roadway.
Gould says that an immediate area of concern is the town of Baggs. Town
officials last week requested assistance in bolstering their dike
system. Runoff forecasts are high for the Little Snake River and WYDOT
manpower from Rawlins will be helping the local crew and volunteers in
adding height to the levee. WYDOT trucks are hauling sand to the state
penitentiary for inmates to fill.
Last year, flooding occurred in the Medicine Bow and Laramie areas from
less snow pack than exists now. Gould says that temporary traffic
control will be implemented as needed down in Baggs and all other areas
until flooding impact is abated. He says that close attention is being
paid to the bridge over the Laramie River adjacent to Bosler.
Motorists in south-central Wyoming are strongly encouraged to check road
conditions before traveling this spring. Traditionally, the highest
water is seen in the first couple weeks of June although with the very
steep snow pack levels in the high country this year, road surface
impacts may occur earlier and last longer.
The clearing of WYO 70 over Battle Pass between Baggs and Encampment
will begin after WYO 130 is opened.
For current road conditions, please phone 511 or visit
www.wyoroad.info/highway/conditions/dist1.html
Photo cutlines are as follows:
01 - A rotary skid steer clears snow at the Green Rock Campground area
on the west side of Green Rock on WYO 130. Daily rotary plow operations
have been required for weeks to keep one lane of road open here to get
equipment back and forth. The snow walls are estimated at ten feet.
02 - WYDOT maintenance engineer, Tim McGary, steps over an Open Range
road sign at Libby Flats on WYO 130. McGary, who has been coming up to
check snow levels on the roadway for 20 years, called this the most
dramatic representation of the amount of snowfall on the range this
spring. Normally this area is scoured clear to the roadway surface by
the wind.
