FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Contact:
Rocky Moretti (202) 262-0714 (cell)
Carolyn Bonifas Kelly (703) 801-9212 (cell)
Click here for the full report, infographics and news conference recording.
WYOMING’S MOST NEEDED TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS IDENTIFIED IN NEW REPORT, BUT CONSTRUCTION FUNDING IS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR 3 OF TOP 25 PROJECTS; WYOMING’S ROAD AND BRIDGE CONDITIONS TO DECLINE WITHOUT INCREASED INVESTMENT
Cheyenne, WY – A lack of sufficient transportation funding will make it difficult to address the state’s top transportation needs and to adequately maintain and improve Wyoming’s roads and bridges, with conditions expected to deteriorate. This is according to a new report released today by TRIP, a Washington, DC based national transportation research nonprofit.
The TRIP report, titled “Keeping Wyoming Mobile: The most needed improvements to provide a safe, reliable, well-maintained transportation system in the Equality State,” examines road and bridge conditions, traffic safety and funding needs in the state and identifies the 25 most needed transportation projects in the state, many of which lack sufficient funding to proceed.
This report identifies the 25 most needed transportation projects in the state to improve the safety, reliability and condition of the state’s transportation system. Only three of the 25 most needed transportation projects in the state currently have construction funding identified. A summary of the top 10 projects is below, with a more detailed list of all 25 projects included in the body of the report.
- Reconstruct and redesign interchange between I-80 and I-25 in Cheyenne. This $500 million project will reconstruct and redesign the interchange to provide safety improvements and enhance truck movements to nearby distribution centers, service areas and industrial parks. The design phase of this project is underway, but no construction funding is available.
- Widening US 287 from Laramie to the Colorado state line. This $59 million project would widen 6.5 miles of the corridor to accommodate I-80 freight traffic, which often uses it as an alternate route, especially during inclement weather or crashes. The design phase of the project is about to begin, but no construction funding is available.
- I-80 improvements in Uinta, Sweetwater, Carbon, Albany and Laramie Counties. This $270 million project would make improvements along 200 miles of I-80 to include truck climbing zones, variable speed limit zones, truck parking and chain up areas, and would allow for additional maintenance personnel and equipment. No design or construction funding is currently available.
- New passing lanes on WY 59 in Campbell County. This $97 million project would construct new passing lanes or increase the length of the existing passing lanes from Douglas to Gilette to ease congestion and improve safety for tourism, agriculture and energy industry users. No funds are currently available.
- Widening Wind River Canyon tunnels in Hot Springs County. This $100 million project would widen Wind River Canyon tunnels – or construct an alternate route between Shoshoni and Thermopolis – to accommodate increasingly frequent oversize freight movements and make other resiliency improvements on this critical route north and south through the Big Horn Basin. A planning study has started.
- Widening WY 22 from Jackson to Wilson. This $60 million project would widen WY 22 to increase mobility and safety on this critical corridor for commuters into Jackson and tourists into ski resorts and multiple national parks. As traffic volumes have increased on this route, the number and severity of crashes have also increased. The project is awaiting environmental review.
- Construction of passing lanes on US 20/US 26 from Waltman towards Shoshoni. This $5 million project will enhance road safety and improve quality of traffic flow on the 24-mile US 20/26 corridor, which is a critical route east and west through the center part of the state. This project is scheduled for 2027.
- Construction of passing lanes on US 20 from Shoshoni towards Thermopolis. The $5 million project would construct passing lanes on the 2.7-mile corridor to enhance road safety and improve traffic flow on this critical route north and south through the Big Horn Basin. This project is scheduled for 2027.
- Construction of passing lanes on US 20/26 from Casper towards Shoshoni. This $16 million project will enhance road safety and improve traffic flow on the 13-mile corridor, which is a critical route east and west through the center part of the state.
- Construction of passing lanes on US 85 from Cheyenne towards South Dakota state line. This $41 million project will identify strategic areas to deploy passing lanes to enhance road safety and improve traffic flow on US 85, which is a critical route north and south along the eastern edge of the state. The project is identified in a passing lane study, but no design or funding is available.
A lack of sufficient funding will make it difficult to adequately maintain and improve the state’s existing transportation system. WYDOT faces a substantial transportation funding shortfall, hampering the state’s ability to make needed improvements. The state’s gasoline and diesel taxes are the lowest of the six surrounding states. And Wyoming’s existing transportation funds are stretched increasingly thin as vehicles become more fuel efficient, the number of electric vehicles on the road increases, and inflation in highway construction costs -which has increased 52 percent from the beginning of 2022 through the third quarter of 2025 – reduces the purchasing power of existing funds.
“While pavement preservation mode was a necessary strategy to take, WYDOT has been very transparent about the limited sustainability of current funding outlooks and the agency’s ability to meet its mission and fundamental responsibilities to Wyoming’s residents and tourists,” said WYDOT Director Darin Westby. “Capacity projects like the ones outlined in the TRIP report are not feasible while in a pavement preservation strategy. As Wyoming communities grow and tourism traffic continues to increase, WYDOT is seeking funding solutions to meet demand without sacrificing pavement and bridge smoothness and quality.”
Thirty-three percent of Wyoming’s state-maintained roads were in poor condition in 2025. Based on current funding projections, WYDOT estimates that by 2028, the share of state-maintained roads in poor condition will increase to 37 percent, with nearly 250 additional miles of roadway falling into poor condition.
Seven percent (224 of 3,138) of Wyoming’s bridges are rated in poor/structurally deficient condition. This includes all bridges that are 20 feet or longer. Bridges that are rated poor/structurally deficient have significant deterioration of the bridge deck, supports or other major components. Between 2024 and 2028, WYDOT anticipates an annual bridge funding gap of approximately $125 million– a total of more than $627 million over the six years. WYDOT estimates that under current funding constraints, between 2024 and 2028 the number of state-owned bridges rated in poor condition is expected to increase by 54 percent (rising from 80 to 123), and the number of state-owned bridges in good condition is expected to drop by a third (from 534 to 357).
“Ensuring we have safe highways is an essential part of maintaining a strong economy in Wyoming,” said Renny MacKay, president of the Wyoming Business Alliance. “Our roads are the arteries that connect Wyoming businesses to markets. We appreciate TRIP shining a light on the gaps and needs.”
From 2019 to 2024, 769 people were killed in traffic crashes in Wyoming, an average of 128 fatalities each year. The state’s 2024 traffic fatality rate of 1.12 fatalities for every 100 million miles traveled is lower than the national average of 1.2.
“Without additional investment, needed transportation projects in Wyoming will be left stranded on the drawing board and road and bridge conditions will deteriorate,” said Dave Kearby, TRIP’s executive director. “A well-maintained and well-funded transportation system is essential to keep Wyoming residents, visitors and businesses moving in a positive direction.”