To help truckers avoid dangerous blow-over crashes on interstates, Wyoming transportation officials are deploying a new roadway messaging system alerting drivers about at-risk vehicle weights as wintertime’s peak accident season approaches.
Throughout the winter, the Wyoming Department of Transportation will use updated weight-based wind closure messaging for commercial vehicles and other high-profile vehicles across the state, especially in blow-over hot spots, such as parts of Interstate 80 and I-25 as well as Wyoming Highway 28…
“Our roadside systems use real-time wind gusts as the basis of our weight-based wind closures. Roads are not closed, for high-profile vehicles or otherwise, until adverse conditions actually occur,” Garcia said. “However, predictive messaging on our electronic message boards, such as ‘High Wind Forecast, Expect Crosswinds 60+’ or ‘Expect Closure to Light/High Profile Vehicles,’ might be put into place a day or so in advance.”
WYDOT’s ability to provide accurate weight restrictions during high-wind events is a result of research conducted by the University of Wyoming.
