Truckers lose about 80 parking spots as Wyoming DOT closes 10 rest areas

Officials with the Wyoming Department of Transportation say plans to shut down 10 of the state’s rest areas will affect about 80 truck parking spaces.

On June 5, Gov. Mark Gordon announced the state will close 10 rest areas to reduce WYDOT’s operational costs. The closures began June 15.

The governor says the closures are necessary to reduce WYDOT’s costs due to budgetary shortfalls. The closures will leave 19 rest areas and eight information centers open statewide.

“This is a painful reality but a necessary step given our state’s fiscal situation,” Gordon said in the news release.

These are the rest areas that WYDOT will close: Lusk on U.S. 18.; Guernsey on U.S. 26; Greybull on U.S. 14-16-20; Moorcroft on Interstate 90; Star Valley on U.S. 89; Fort Steele on Interstate 80; Sundance on Interstate 90; Upton on U.S. 16; Orin Junction on Interstate 25; and Chugwater on Interstate 25.

“We took a hard look at all of our rest areas and came up with a list of those that we feel we can close with a minimal amount of impact to our travelers,” WYDOT director Luke Reiner said. “It was a hard decision but one that we came to based on the needs of the public and to ensure we maintain a balanced budget.”

A DOT spokesperson confirmed in an email to Land Line that there are no plans to ease parking enforcement in the rest of the state as a result of fewer available spaces.

The rest area closures are expected to save WYDOT approximately $197,453 from June 15 through Sept. 30, which is the end of the fiscal year. The department estimates an annual savings of about $789,812 per year. LL