WILSON, Wyo. — In addition to outlining a shuttle service and paid parking scenarios, the recent Federal Highway Administration (FHA) Teton Pass Corridor Study Draft Plan also explores capital improvement projects along the 24-mile corridor.
The 47-page draft plan outlines improvements to the Phillips Bench area, the summit of Teton Pass and Coal Creek. The draft plan also looks at adding wildlife crossings between Coal Creek and the Idaho State Line and the possibility of adding two avalanche sheds at the base of Twin Slides and the Glory slide path.
Phillips Bench
The informal parking area across the road from Forest Road 30972, Phillips Canyon Trailhead, has two improvement scenarios outlined in the draft plan. One option presents improvements to the existing site while a second scenario explores creating a new parking area on the north side of the road adjacent to Forest Road 30972.
The current lot is owned by the Wyoming Department of Transportation and is used to store gravel and dirt. It is not plowed in the winter and a popular parking area for mountain bikers in the summer with access to trails on the south side of The Pass. The draft outlines an option to regrade the site to accommodate more vehicles and a potential shuttle bus and adds a pedestrian underpass that links the parking area to Forest Road 30972.
According to the draft, adding the underpass would cost $3 million. Along with the other improvement elements the project is estimated at $5.7 million.
The other improvement options looks at adding a parking lot to the north side, aimed at providing better access for snowmobilers who currently use the pullout about a quarter of a mile down The Pass.
According to the draft, the new lot would create about 74 spaces but would require extensive earthwork and the removal of about 12 trees. It is estimated to cost $3 million.
Summit of Teton Pass
Expanding parking at the lot directly below Twin Slides is also outlined in the draft plan. This improvement would cost about $800,000 and could add 63 spaces and be an area for shuttle services to pick up and drop off passengers. The only constraint is that it is located in the Twin Slides avalanche path, but the draft notes, “the area could be developed into a dual avalanche shed and parking structure.”
The draft also suggests expanding the summit area by adding drop-off and pick-up zones on both sides of the pass and pedestrian underpasses to eliminate the need to cross the highway to access the Glory boot pack. Under this scenario, the total improvements are estimated to cost $11.3 million.
Avalanche sheds
The draft plan notes, “According to WYDOT historical data, there have been a total of 690 avalanches along Teton Pass from 2008 to 2021 with the two most problematic and frequent paths being the Glory and Twin Slides. Since 2008, WY22 has been closed a total of 582 hours from these avalanche occurrences, with 71 closure hours coming in 2020 and 2021.”
The draft plan says a shed could be installed at the base of Twin Slides as well as Glory Slide, costing $23.5 million and $20.7 million, respectively. The Twin Slide shed could be installed along with the parking structure, discussed above, for an estimated additional $7 million.
The draft notes that constraints associated with avalanche sheds include the cost of construction/operations and that the sheds could act as a dam for runoff which could impact wildlife and vegetation at lower elevations.
Coal Creek
Based on the FHA study, the draft plan suggests making a more formalized trailhead parking lot and adding a shuttle bus lane and waiting area with amenities. The improvements are estimated to cost $700,000.
Wildlife crossings
The study considered wildlife collisions and found that a majority of the accidents occur between Coal Creek and the Idaho State Line. The draft plan suggests adding wildlife crossings along the nearly four-mile stretch but says “recommended mitigation solutions will be integrated with community needs and values..”
The draft also states, “crossing structures are not universally feasible due to their cost as well as other terrain or land use considerations, in which case other types of mitigation strategies may be warranted, alone or in combination with crossings.”
The draft plan notes the cost estimates for wildlife crossing infrastructure:
- Arch overpass for two-lane highway: $8 million
- Arch underpass for two-lane highway: $2.5 million
- Box culvert underpass: $1.5 million
- Wildlife fencing (includes ramps and gates): $130 thousand a mile
