Highway 26 Still Closed Due to Flooding West of Riverton [VIDEO]
U.S. Highway remains closed due to flood waters flowing across the roadway some 30 miles west of Riverton.
Detours are in place, and WYDOT works are stationed at closure gates on each end of the closed segment.
Drivers headed westbound out of Riverton are being diverted south to Wyoming 132's intersection with U.S. 287, then north through Fort Washakie to the Diversion Dam junction of U.S. Highways 26 and 287.
There, drivers can resume their trip to Dubois, Yellowstone Park and Jackson.
Eastbound drivers leaving Dubois are being asked to head south on U.S. 287 toward Lander at the Diversion Dam Junction, then turn north onto Wyoming 132 and drive to U.S. 26 near Kinnear, where folks can then continue eastbound toward Riverton and Casper.
Cody Beers, public relations specialist for WYDOT, says flood waters from the Wind River have been rising since last weekend. Water nearly started flowing across U.S. 26 on Tuesday night, but receded near the highway Wednesday morning.
Then, Wednesday afternoon, water started flowing across the highway near milepost 104.
"The water flowing across the highway has risen to about a foot deep, and our vehicle wanted to float," WYDOT District Engineer Pete Hallsten said in a statement on Beers' Facebook page. "That's when the decision was made to close the roadway until water recedes and the highway is safe for vehicles to pass through."
"We were the last drivers through the water on U.S. 26 this afternoon," Hallsten said. "We appreciate everyone's patience."