Battle Pass Opens for Season

Wyoming Highway 70 between Saratoga and Baggs opens May 23

The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) announced one of two seasonal highways in the Platte Valley had reopened earlier this week.

On May 23, WYDOT announced the opening of Wyoming Highway 70 over Battle Pass. This 23-mile stretch of highway connects the Platte Valley with the Little Snake River Valley during the summer months and closes during the winter.

According to the press release, crews from Saratoga and Baggs began working on the highway in early May. Multiple rotary plows and other heavy equipment was used to clear the large drifts of snow which had accumulated over the winter.

Wyoming Highway 70-which tops out at 9,955 feet as it crosses the Continental Divide-is one of several high-elevation mountain roads which closes on an annual basis. Typically, Wyoming Highway 70 has an opening date of the first week of June. Last year, it opened on May 20. The highway opened on May 21 in 2020, June 3 in 2019, May 21 in 2018 and June 1 in 2017.

Tim Morton, WYDOT District 1 Maintenance Engineer, said drivers must "be aware of melting snow along the roadway. The snow melt can refreeze at night creating isolated hazardous slick spots which may catch drivers off guard."

Morton added visibility may be limited around curves by tall snow banks. Signs, delineators and guardrails may also be obscured by the tall snow banks. Drivers should stay alert when on Wyoming Highway 70 as WYDOT maintenance crews may be in the area to make repairs to guardrails or sign posts damaged by the snow.

 

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