Wyoming
Wyoming Did Propose Drilling A Tunnel Through Teton Pass But It Never…
Dreams are just that.
Nothing more, unless there’s lots of money sloshing around in the U.S. Treasury that can make them happen.
In late 2021, the federal government had so much taxpayer money in its overstuffed wallet that it made available to every state when the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act got signed into law.
The law set aside over $1.2 trillion for everything from rebuilding bridges and roads to improving electrical grids and building wind turbines and solar projects in open spaces across the United States.
Boring tunnels through mountains for desperately needed road projects also were considered.
Three years ago, governors — like Mark Gordon in Wyoming — were asked to come up with a “wish list” of road, bridge and other projects where they could apply for billions to fund pet transportation projects.
In Wyoming, the job of coming up with some of the list fell to Luke Reiner, the now retired head of the Wyoming Department of Transportation.
It also was an opportunity to try and get money for a bucket-list item on the state’s wish list — a tunnel through the Teton Range to replace a chronically problematic Highway 22 over Teton Pass.
It Would Cost How Much?
Back in January 2013, the Wyoming Department of Transportation took a serious look at the possibility of building a tunnel through the Tetons, bypassing all the switchbacks that snake back and forth in the area where the road collapsed down the mountainside June 8.
The estimated price tag to build the tunnel in 2021 was $750 million, according to WYDOT spokesman Doug Moran. That’s up 188% from the $260 million estimated in 2013 when the idea first surfaced with a feasibility study.
Adding another 15.9% cumulative rate of inflation since 2021 and a tunnel like the one proposed by WYDOT more than a decade ago could cost nearly $870 million today.
That’s well over three times the cost of the tunnel’s price tag estimated by WYDOT analysts a decade ago.
With the pass open again with a temporary fix and WYDOT planning to rebuild the part of the mountain that gave way, some are asking if it’s not time to reconsider a tunnel.
‘Hugely Expensive’
“It’s hugely expensive,” said Luke Reiner, who retired as WYDOT director in March 2023 after a four-year stint at the helm of the state agency. “It’s all about money.”
Also, Wyoming Highway 22 is a headache.
It needs constant maintenance and repair in the winter months when snow is several feet deep, and another project getting penciled out would widen the road to the heavy daily traffic through the Teton Pass.
The highway connects Victor and Driggs in Idaho where the blue-collar workforce lives, which serves the high-brow community of Jackson, Wyoming, where the people from Idaho fill jobs in hospitals, restaurants and expensive clothing and arts and craft stores.
“Part of the reason for putting it in would be the cost of maintenance in the winter,” Reiner told Cowboy State Daily of the patching and repairs that it spends annually on fixing Wyoming Highway 22, the main route through the Teton Pass.
While the tunnel never got funded, Reiner added another perspective, possibly one of greater good for the country.
“As you look at the needs of the state and the needs of the nation, things always get whittled down. There certainly may be an option at some later time,” he said.
“There may be more important issues out there. That’s what you must keep in perspective,” Reiner said. “The reality is, I would not hold my breath for funding.”
The ‘Dream List’
The “dream list” that Reiner gave to Gordon for submission to the Biden administration back in 2021 included more than $9.4 billion in projects.
These included the $750 million Teton Pass tunnel project, $400 million in improvements to the three Wind River tunnels in the canyon south of Thermopolis, $310 million for improvements to the 80 and Interstate 25 interchange in Cheyenne, and $6.1 billion for rerouting 19 miles of I-80 onto an expanded U.S. 30 to four lanes in south central Wyoming for truckers to travel on as an alternative route during icy and rainy weather or to bypass pileups.
“There was a very nice increase in funding from the infrastructure law that resulted in significant enhanced revenue coming back to the state,” Reiner said. “But inflation has a great way of eating up those dollars. In the end, the bipartisan infrastructure law allowed us to complete projects we already scheduled without cutting them.”
The Road Collapses
While Wyoming didn’t receive billions of dollars for it’s shovel-worthy projects, the Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration did hand over $6 million in emergency money to help offset the costs of repairs in the Teton Range caused by last month’s landslide.
The funds were used to build “a safe, temporary detour” near the Wyoming-Idaho border that restores critical access to popular tourist destinations such as Jackson Hole, Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park.
The collapse of Wyoming State Highway 22, also known as Teton Pass, happened June 8 when 200 feet of the road washed down an embankment, causing a complete loss of the roadway at milepost 12.8.
Another landslide happened a day earlier at milepost 15, covering the highway in mud and debris. No vehicles were on the highway at the time of the collapse and there were no injuries reported.
Crews worked around-the-clock to clean up the water, mud and debris that washed down the mountain from these disasters.
The road was reopened June 28 to traffic that WYDOT says handles about 7,200 vehicles annually, with counts climbing to 10,000 in June and July during peak tourism season.
WYDOT’s alternative to a washed-out Highway 22 over Teton Pass in Wyoming is the reason why everyone drove more than 100 miles along five highways of bumper-to-bumper traffic from Victor, Idaho, at the border with Wyoming, to Jackson.
Less than three weeks after a section of mountain dropped off and took part of Highway 22 with it, the temporary fix is just that.
Rebuilding The Mountain
Plans now are for WYDOT to rebuild the mountain and the road on its original spot.
It will be a massive undertaking, but WYDOT won’t be considering a tunnel as a long-term solution.
“It isn’t feasible,” Moran told Cowboy State Daily.
To Reiner, there were advantages to a tunnel that would have extended 1.4 miles, or 7,400 feet, from different spots under consideration near the switchbacks, completely bypassing the road area that slid down the mountainside.
The tunnel site would have extended well over a mile from just west of Wilson, Wyoming, to somewhere near the turnoff for Mail Cabin Creek Road, according to a copy of the feasibility study obtained by Cowboy State Daily.
“You wouldn’t have to plow it because it’s under a mountain. There are some good operational reasons to do it,” Reiner said. “Every time you can’t drive through the Teton Pass because of a snowstorm, you’ve got to get a plow driver up in the middle of the night.”
There also are disadvantages, he said.
“Operationally, there are some drawbacks, like whether it is well ventilated, and you must be careful of safety on either end of the tunnel, and work to mitigate that,” Reiner said. “When you look at the big picture, you have to say, ‘Is this the best project for our dollar?’”
Rising Maintenance Costs
Tunnels are expensive propositions. There may be lessons to be learned from Colorado to the south.
Bob Wilson, a spokesman for the Colorado Department of Transportation, said that it is unlikely his state would ever again build another tunnel.
“We’re not building any tunnels. It’s too cost prohibitive,” Wilson said.
Its hallmark tunnel project was the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel, built in two sections in the 1970s that connected the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains to the Western Slope.
Located about 60 miles west of Denver on Interstate 70, the two eastbound and westbound tunnels extend 1.7 miles through the Rockies.
It cost $262 million to build both bores between 1968 and 1979, or the equivalent of about $1.2 billion in today dollars, Wilson said.
“We’re just expanding the existing structure today,” said Wilson of the tunnel that handles nearly seven times as much traffic volume as the Teton Pass in its busy tourism season.
And maintenance in the city-like area where the tunnels are located is a constant challenge. It’s risen nearly 37% to $4.1 million in two years to pay for a fire department, plumbers and electricians.
“It’s kind of like a mini-city,” Wilson said. “The maintenance is quite significant, as you’ve got to keep the sides of the walls clean because they get filthy, especially in the winter with traffic, and plumbing for water systems and lights. It must be self-sufficient. The nearest city is 12 miles away.”
In the early 2000s, there was talk about building another tunnel through Berthoud Pass, a high mountain pass in central Colorado, in the Front Range of the Rockies.
“We decided to go over the Berthoud Pass, not through it,” Wilson said.
“It was eliminated fairly early in the study process since the cost was prohibitive and any funds for tunnels would be more focused on the Eisenhower due to its location on the interstate and much higher traffic numbers,” Wilson told Cowboy State Daily.
Pat Maio can be reached at pat@cowboystatedaily.com.
If you’re planning on visiting Wyoming, for a truly authentic experience, you must include at least one of the state’s awesome downtowns in your travel plans. Positioned at the southern end of the 60-mile-long valley known as Jackson Hole, the character-rich town of Jackson is one such place to consider. A wonderful place to explore on foot, Jackson’s unique downtown, with its Old West vibe, spreads out from the intersection of Broadway and Cache Street. While it consists of just a few blocks, it is jam-packed with fun things to do, no matter what time of year you visit. Its impressive elk arch makes for an excellent photo opportunity, while the charm of its Old West heritage exudes from the historic buildings, cowboy-themed bars, and art installations across town. The wild past also comes to life in Jackson during the Jackson Hole Shootout at the Town Square, a tradition that has endured since 1957.
Town Square And The Elk Antler Arches
Though Jackson’s Central Park is officially known as George Washington Memorial Park, locals and visitors alike prefer to call it Town Square. Dedicated in 1934, this centrally located public space occupies the block at Broadway and Cache and is famous for the elk antler archers set at each of its corners.
Made entirely from naturally shed elk antlers, the first arch was erected by local Boy Scouts and Rotary Club members in 1953, with the other three added a few years later. Each consists of around 2,000 antlers collected from the nearby National Elk Refuge and is among the most photographed landmarks in Wyoming.
For a truly memorable experience, try to time a visit to coincide with ELKFEST. Held in May, this community-wide celebration attracts visitors from across the country for events like the Mountain Man Rendezvous, a reenactment of the state’s early fur trading years.
The main event, though, is the highly anticipated Elk Antler Auction. Bidders from far and wide turn up at Town Square to purchase antlers, which are then used to make everything from furniture to jewelry (proceeds going back to the Elk Refuge).
Jackson’s Cowboy Heritage
From Memorial Day through Labor Day, Town Square becomes the backdrop of the famous Jackson Hole Shootout. This fun (and free) mock gunfight has been entertaining visitors since 1957 and includes several costumed outlaws and lawmen shooting it out (with blanks, of course). You can add to the experience by hopping aboard the Jackson Hole Stagecoach, a ride aboard a century-old coach that loops around downtown.
The Old West theme is evident in other spots around the downtown core, too. Steps from Town Square, the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar has been around since 1937 and is set in what was once the town’s first bank in the late 1890s. Highlights include its hand-carved bar top with silver dollars embedded in it, as well as its cool saddle barstools. Live music is regularly scheduled on the stage that has seen such legends as Willie Nelson and Hank Williams Jr. perform.
The Wort Hotel is another downtown landmark you’ll want to include in your Jackson itinerary. A local fixture since 1941, it’s here you’ll find the famous Silver Dollar Bar with its custom-made S-shaped counter inlaid with 2,032 uncirculated (and therefore rare) 1921 silver dollars. You’ll also want to check out its priceless collection of original Western art.
Other Fun Stuff To Do In Downtown Jackson
In addition to its iconic bars, downtown Jackson also boasts a world-class food scene. Highlights include Persephone Bakery, its old-fashioned stone hearth turning out delicious baked goods, including croissants and artisanal bread. Also yummy, Cafe Genevieve occupies an old log cabin and serves breakfast and lunch with a Southern-inspired menu.
Jackson’s art scene is also worth a mention. Art galleries are plentiful in the downtown area, with establishments like Astoria Fine Art and Mountain Trails Galleries, both on Town Square, featuring works by local, national, and international artists. The Center for the Arts is another cultural high point and features performance spaces, visual arts studios, and an outdoor sculpture park.
Snow King Mountain
Another unique feature of Jackson’s downtown is its proximity to some of Wyoming’s best (and certainly most accessible) ski hills. The base of Snow King Mountain is just six blocks from Town Square and has been in use since 1936, and really took off when Wyoming’s first chairlift opened here in 1946.
Dubbed the “Town Hill” by locals, Snow King now consists of 500 skiable acres, 41 named runs, three chairlifts, an eight-passenger gondola, and night skiing. In warmer months, the action shifts to a thrilling Cowboy Coaster, a zipline, a treetop adventure ropes course, and an alpine slide.
The Snow King Observatory and Planetarium is another excuse to head for the hills from downtown Jackson. Located at the summit of Snow King Mountain, in addition to its large telescope, this must-see attraction features a planetarium theater and a rooftop observation deck boasting incredible views over Jackson and the Jackson Hole Valley.
Explore Jackson’s Not-So-Wild Side
Downtown Jackson has so much to offer visitors seeking an authentic slice of Wyoming life. From its unique elk antler arches to its art galleries and cowboy culture, as well as its unique position steps from the ski hills, few towns in the USA’s Mountain Region can match the long list of fun things to do in Jackson’s downtown core.
The expansion would open the spigot for 550,000 barrels per day of crude, the company says. Although the crude would mostly pass through eastern Wyoming, the venture opens opportunities for Wyoming oil producers in the region for more transportation access to U.S. refineries and shipping ports, according to Bridger and local industry officials.“It would be the biggest project in our history, if it comes to fruition,” Bridger Pipeline spokesperson Bill Salvin told WyoFile on Friday. “We are, however, in the really early stages of the project. But we’re very excited about it.”Industry trade groups speculate the Bridger Pipeline Expansion is part of a competitive scramble to fill a gap left by TC Energy’s Keystone XL project. That company, in 2021, abandoned the controversial project in the face of major opposition and protests. It would have transported Canadian tar-sands oil into the U.S. market via a route extending through Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. Among many challenges for Keystone XL was acquiring new rights-of-way easements. Though the Bridger Pipeline Expansion proposal requires some new rights-of-way, that’s not the case for the 210-mile Wyoming segment, according to Salvin.“All of that distance is within, or parallel to, existing pipeline corridors,” Salvin said.
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The Wyoming segment would pass through Crook, Weston, Niobrara, Goshen and Platte counties.Bridger Pipeline, a subsidiary of Casper-based True Companies, submitted a notice of intent to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality in January and noted it will formally initiate environmental applications to the agency. Salvin told WyoFile he’s uncertain about the full spectrum of regulatory requirements in Wyoming.However, the company regards the Cowboy State as a great fit for the project, he said. “This [project proposal] just highlights how important the region is and how Wyoming is a very good place for energy projects like this.”Reached for comment, the Petroleum Association of Wyoming said the proposed pipeline only stands to benefit Wyoming producers and the state.“Investments like these, along with continued growth in areas like the Powder River Basin, show Wyoming will continue to play an important role in the nation’s energy markets,” PAW Vice President and Director of Communications Ryan McConnaughey told WyoFile. “Connecting in Guernsey allows product to be transported to refining hubs like Cushing, Oklahoma.” WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy.
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LARAMIE — Nasir Meyer converted a three-point play with 35 seconds remaining to give Wyoming Cowboys men’s basketball the lead for good, and Wyoming held Air Force Falcons men’s basketball scoreless over the final two minutes to secure a 66-62 victory Saturday night.
The win marked the 13th home victory of the season for Wyoming, which improved to 16-13 overall and 7-11 in conference play.
“Air Force deserves all the credit and let’s talk about a team that has every reason not to fight, but thats why they are Air Force and the cadets and I have a lot of respect for them,” Wyoming coach Sundance Wicks said. “They were not going to quit, and I didn’t drive that message home enough and hats off to Air Force because they deserved to win. We snuck away with a win. Adam Harakow showed when we need him and he was massive for us. Simm-Marten was made big plays and Naz was clutch for us late.”
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Wyoming shot 35% from the field and went 7 of 28 from 3-point range, making just two from beyond the arc in the second half. Air Force shot 49% overall and 44% from 3, hitting eight shots from long distance. The Cowboys made 13 of 16 free throws (81%) and scored 22 points off 15 Air Force turnovers while holding a 39-36 edge in rebounding.
Damarion Dennis led Wyoming with 16 points and three assists, going 7 of 8 from the free-throw line. Meyer finished with 14 points and tied a career best with eight rebounds. Adam Harakow added 14 points off the bench on 5-of-6 shooting, his first double-figure scoring game since the first meeting with Air Force. Simm-Marten Saadi had nine points in 13 minutes, and Kiani Saxon grabbed seven rebounds.
Air Force opened with back-to-back 3-pointers to take a 6-0 lead. Meyer scored Wyoming’s first basket, and Leland Walker added a 3-pointer to make it 8-5 with 16 minutes left in the first half.
Wyoming responded with a 9-0 run over nearly four minutes, with Saadi and Harakow each connecting from beyond the arc to give the Cowboys an 11-8 lead with under 14 minutes remaining. Air Force regained a 12-11 advantage as Wyoming went scoreless for more than two minutes.
Harakow’s second 3-pointer pushed the lead to 22-16 with nine minutes left in the half, and Wyoming used a 6-0 run while holding the Falcons without a field goal for more than four minutes to build a 28-18 lead with six minutes remaining. The Cowboys closed the half on a defensive stand, keeping Air Force scoreless for the final two minutes to take a 35-25 lead into the break. Wyoming scored 15 first-half points off turnovers.
The teams traded 3-pointers early in the second half, and Air Force cut the deficit to 40-31 with under 17 minutes left before trimming it to seven 90 seconds later. Walker answered with a 3-pointer to make it 43-33 with 15 minutes to go.
Air Force used a 9-0 run during a stretch in which Wyoming went more than 3 1/2 minutes without a point to pull within one with nine minutes left. The Falcons later tied the game at 51-51 with 5:30 remaining after forcing six straight missed shots.
A pair of free throws by Meyer and a basket from Saadi gave Wyoming a 57-53 lead with under four minutes to play. Air Force answered with three consecutive 3-pointers from Kam Sanders to take a 62-59 lead with two minutes left.
Meyer scored with 90 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to one. On the next trip, he converted an and-one to give Wyoming a 64-62 lead with 35 seconds left. The Cowboys added late free throws to close out the 66-62 win.
Sanders led Air Force with 16 points and nine rebounds, going 4 of 5 from 3-point range. Eli Robinson added 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
Wyoming closes its home schedule Tuesday against Nevada Wolf Pack men’s basketball at 8 p.m. as part of a doubleheader with the Cowgirls.
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