UPDATE (9:41 a.m. Thursday)

All lanes of Interstate 80 between Rawlins and Rock Springs are expected to remain closed until Thursday evening at the earliest, according to an update from WYDOT. 

In addition, the eastbound lanes from Evanston to Rock Springs and the westbound lanes from Cheyenne to Rawlins will remain closed for the same estimated period. 

==========================================================

Original Story:

Interstate 80 between Rock Springs and Rawlins is expected to remain closed overnight due to high winds, snow drifts and forecast winter weather.

The Wyoming Department of Transportation issued a statement Wednesday afternoon saying travelers should find an alternate route.

WYDOT continues to plow the road and pull resources from other areas, but the agency expects I-80 will remained closed until at least Thursday morning.

High winds have resulted in snow drifts building up on the roadway. In the eastbound lanes, maintenance crews reported drifts were roughly one foot deep as of Wednesday afternoon, and drivers reportedly lost control of their vehicles as a result.

Although plowing efforts continue, maintenance crews reported the drifts formed in between snowplow passes.

Weather conditions between Rawlins and Rock Springs were not expected to improve overnight, the agency said, with high winds and several inches of additional snowfall forecast.

Much of the I-80 corridor saw a high wind event on Wednesday with peak gusts of 65 mph recorded at Vedauwoo, 73 mph at Quealy Dome and 75 mph at Herrick Lane.

More From K2 Radio