Wyoming Highway 130 Explained

State:WY
Type:WY
Route:130
Alternate Name:Snowy Range Road
Map Custom:yes
Map Notes:WYO 130 highlighted in red
Length Mi:98.52
Length Round:2
Direction A:West
Terminus A: in Walcott
Junction: in Laramie
Direction B:East
Terminus B: in Laramie
Counties:Albany, Carbon
Spur Of:30
Spur Type:US
Previous Type:WY
Previous Route:120
Next Type:WY
Next Route:131

Wyoming Highway 130 (WYO 130) is a 98.52-longNaN-long state highway in the U.S. State of Wyoming. It is known locally as the Snowy Range Road. It makes its way west from Laramie across the plains, and rises over the Medicine Bow Mountains. The road then turns north through the town of Saratoga, and ends at Interstate 80 (I-80). The stretch of road over the mountains is a National Forest Byway. WYO 130 over Snowy Range Pass is closed during winter (November–May).[1]

Route description

Wyoming Highway 130 travels from Interstate 80 (Exit 235) and US 30/US 287 at Walcott south through Saratoga, intersecting unsigned Wyoming Highway 74 at 20.3miles, and continuing further south to a junction with Wyoming Highway 230 at 28.2miles, where WYO 130 turns east to head to Laramie. WYO 130 heads east across the Medicine Bow Mountains (or Snowy Range Mountains) and through part of the Medicine Bow National Forest, and passes through Centennial at around 69miles. Six miles east of Centennial, 130 intersects Wyoming Highway 11 which provides a route to Albany. From there Highway 130 travels 17miles in a relatively due east direction over rolling hills. At 91.7miles Wyoming Highway 12 is intersected, and at 96.2miles Highway 130 meets Highway 230 once again just west of Laramie. From here the routes 130 and 230 run together (or concurrent) into Laramie as Snowy Range Road. This is the only instance in Wyoming where two state routes are merged. Shortly after, Snowy Range Road (WYO 130/WYO 230) has an interchange with I-80 (Exit 311). Almost 2miles after that interchange Wyoming Highway 130, as well as Wyoming Highway 230, ends at I-80 BUS/US 30/US 287.

History

Highway 130 used to begin in downtown Saratoga at the current unmarked junction with Wyoming Highway 74 (the corner of First and Bridge Streets). The current routing of Wyoming 130 from the Highway 74 junction south to the Highway 230 junction was once part of Wyoming Highway 70. Originally Highway 130 traveled southeast along the Carbon County Route 504 path to Ryan Park. The roadway from Ryan Park to the WYO 130/WYO 230 junction was not built at that time. Then 130 resumes its current course east to Centennial and Laramie.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Official 2003 State Highway Map of Wyoming