WYDOT proposes second “arrestor” on Teton Pass

A proposal to build a second vehicle arrestor location on Teton Pass will be the subject of a public meeting in Wilson Tuesday, March 20.

The Wyoming Department of Transportation says it will share its research and listen to public feedback.

The first arrestor was intended to eliminate the potential of head-on crashes with vehicles that lost their brakes and tried to use an existing truck escape ramp located on the opposite side of the roadway. That project at milepost 7.4 was contracted for construction in late 2015. It has been used 3 times within 7 months of its opening by vehicles experiencing brake failure.

There are steep grades over 5.2 miles of Highway 22 above the town of Wilson. WYDOT said with a long descent, one arrestor will not be able to capture all of the errant vehicles that lose their brakes. Numerous other safety devices have already been implemented.

“Having one arrestor a few miles below the pass has shown to capture runaway vehicles and prevent accidents. An additional arrestor somewhere else will further reduce the risk and danger to the driver, passing motorists, pathway users, as well as the residents of Wilson,” WYDOT District 3 Engineer Keith Compton said.

The public meeting is scheduled Tuesday at the Old Wilson Schoolhouse Community Center at 5655 Main Street in Wilson from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.