News – Sheridan Media
The Wyoming Department of Transportation urges drivers to stop racing highway road closure gates this winter season. WYDOT has experienced an increase in road closure gate crashes and near misses in recent winters as drivers try to race the gate as employees are lowering it. At least 23 recorded crashes have taken place since 2020,and that doesn’t include near misses.
Per Wyoming Statute, road closure signs – including overhead digital messaging signs – meet the requirements for notifying the public that a road is closed, even if WYDOT staff haven’t made it to a road closure gate yet. According to information from WYDOT, over the last five years, the agency has spent almost $180,000 on fixing and replacing damaged road closure gates. Typically WYDOT closes roads in the winter due to extremely limited visibility, drifting snow blocking the roadway, or a crash that has blocked all of the lanes. WYDOT does however prioritize implementing travel authorizations through the Wyoming Travel Authorization Program to allow traffic on portions of closed roads for drivers to get to work, home, to livestock, or other essential business as conditions allow.
WYDOT Colonel Tim Cameron said the highway patrol is committed to enforcing road closure violations this winter, regardless of whether the gate is down or not, and that drivers must plan ahead for the weather conditions.
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Last modified: December 11, 2025