Wyoming Highway 28
Wyoming Highway 28 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Pass Highway | ||||
Map WYO 28 highlighted in red | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by WYDOT | ||||
| Length | 96.46 mi (155.24 km) | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| West end |  WYO 372 near Farson | |||
 US 191 in Farson | ||||
| East end |   US 287 / WYO 789 south of Lander | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| State | Wyoming | |||
| Counties | Sweetwater, Sublette, Fremont | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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Wyoming Highway 28 (WYO 28) is a 96.46-mile-long (155.24 km) Wyoming state highway known as the South Pass Highway. It travels from its split from Wyoming Highway 372 near the Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, across the high plains and over South Pass until its junction with U.S. Route 287 8 miles (13 km) south of Lander.
Route description
15 miles (24 km) south of the town of Fontenelle, Wyoming Highway 372 splits, with Highway 28 heading Northeast. It crosses the Green River after 3 miles (4.8 km). After 25 miles (40 km), it intersects U.S. Route 191 at the small town of Farson. After 5 miles (8.0 km), it spurs north to "Farson Little Sandy Road", leading to Big Sandy. It continues northeast out of Sweetwater County, cuts through a small corner of Sublette County and enters Fremont County. It crosses the Continental Divide at South Pass, one of the lowest passes on the continental divide at 7,550 feet (2,300 m). South Pass was used by settlers on the Oregon Trail. From there, there are spurs to the south leading to the South Pass Historic Site and Atlantic City. From there it curves north, travelling about 17 miles (27 km) until its merge with US 287, near Lander.
History
Highway 28 generally follows the route followed by settlers on the Oregon Trail. A section of the highway 17 miles (27 km) south of Lander was realigned around a new U.S. Steel mine in 1962, which created sharp and narrow turns that persisted after the mine closed in 1983. The section was removed after the original alignment restored in 2005.[1]
The highway was extended southwest from Farson to the Fontenelle area in 1986 in response to increased soda ash shipments by truck, which required a paved road.[2] The project was led by the Federal Highway Administration, who were granted the necessary right-of-way by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM); the agreement between the two federal agencies required that any future wildlife fence on the corridor be approved by the BLM.[3] A 15-mile (24 km) was proposed in 1991 to redirect herds of Sublette antelopes as well as livestock who had caused vehicular accidents since the extension opened. The BLM initially approved a plan with the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) to fence the corridor, but WYDOT later retracted the plan following public opposition and pushback from the Wyoming Department of Game and Fish.[4] A series of eight warning signs were installed as an alternative to the fencing plan.[5]
Major intersections
 | This section contains a table that is missing mileposts for one or more junctions. |
| County | Location[6] | mi | km | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweetwater | | 0.00 | 0.00 | WYO 372 / California National Historic Trail / Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail / Oregon National Historic Trail / Pony Express National Historic Trail – Fontenelle, James Town | Western terminus |
| Farson | 28.82 | 46.38 | US 191 – Farson, Eden | ||
| Sublette | No major intersections | ||||
| Fremont | | Continental Divide at South Pass | |||
| | 96.46 | 155.24 | US 287 / WYO 789 / California National Historic Trail / Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail / Oregon National Historic Trail / Pony Express National Historic Trail – Jeffrey City, Lander | Eastern terminus | |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
References
- ^ Farquhar, Brodie (June 8, 2005). "Project targets dangerous highway". Casper Star-Tribune. p. B1. Retrieved June 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Collins, Katharine (November 25, 1989). "Trucking of commodities increases in Wyoming, officials say". Casper Star-Tribune. pp. A1, A14. Retrieved June 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Gearino, Jeff (April 25, 1991). "Wary BLM officials near decision on antelope fence plan". Casper Star-Tribune. p. B1. Retrieved June 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Gearino, Jeff (May 21, 1991). "State DOT won't build fence on Highway 28". Casper Star-Tribune. pp. A1, A12. Retrieved June 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Gearino, Jeff (December 15, 1991). "First Farson-to-Fontenelle wildlife road signs posted". Casper Star-Tribune. p. E4. Retrieved June 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Geography Division (2016). "Wyoming Governmental Unit Reference Map". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2017.