JACKSON, Wyo. — More limited budgets—statewide and closer to home—will mean less snow plowing this winter, though officials say safe conditions will remain a top priority.
The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) faces a tight budget this year and will strictly follow its plan for winter road maintenance. That means crews will still plow the roads but they may remain snowy. Road shoulders also may not get plowed immediately and crews may have to get to those sections later or the next day.
WYDOT will also continue to use road traction materials such as salt and magnesium chloride and has a budgeted amount for those supplies.
“We want to assure the public that we will continue to maintain the roads during winter storms to ensure we provide a safe and effective transportation system,” said WYDOT director K. Luke Reiner. “Our crews will be out there diligently working to clear the roads.”
WYDOT, like other state agencies, had to make budget reductions in response to decreasing revenues. However, WYDOT has a budgeted amount of money for winter maintenance that it will use to follow the snowplow priority plan.
That plan outlines how often department crews go out and maintain high-, medium- and low-volume roads.
“We will have to strictly adhere to our winter maintenance budget, which means there likely won’t be any wiggle room to go over budget if we have a particularly severe winter,” Reiner said. “However, we will continue to provide winter maintenance services based on our limited budget.”
Additionally, school bus routes and the major highways will continue to be a top priority.
“We are asking motorists to make sure they plan ahead, slow down for wintry conditions and be prepared to drive on roads that may be snowy,” Reiner said. “We will do everything within budgetary limits to ensure roads are maintained and safe for motorists.”
Teton County game plan for winter snow removal
Teton County/Jackson Parks & Recreation (TCJPR) winter service levels for 2020-21 have also faced cutbacks from prior years due to COVID impacts on budgets and staffing levels.
“The main impacts will be felt in the timeliness of sidewalk/pathway clearing and shoveling of entrances to government buildings. Our goal will still be to finish routes by 9 a.m., daily, however, there will be times during large or prolonged storms that we will work into the late morning hours,” the department stated.
During storm events, ice rink maintenance will be pushed back in order to provide safe, connected commuter access within the town.
Most notable changes to winter service levels:
- Sidewalk plowing locations in the Town of Jackson will remain unchanged. Parks & Rec will add the new Hansen sidewalk, Jackson St. sidewalk connector at Broadway/Elks Lodge, and Willow St. sidewalk from Hansen to the County Administration building. Staff will prioritize the town core and safe routes to school.
- Highway 22 from the town limits to Emily Steven’s Pond will NOT be plowed.
- Indian Springs connector from Cherokee Lane to Highway 22 will NOT be plowed.
- Powderhorn Ice Rink will NOT be built this year.
All other ice rinks—Owen Bircher, Fairgrounds, and Alta—will be status quo based on the weather and impacts of large or prolonged snow events.
Grooming and all remaining pathways will remain the same due to partnerships with Friends of Pathways who will be responsible for the Monday grooming to Noker Draw.
