One of the busiest rest stops across the vast wide-open spaces of Wyoming is closed to visitors while it undergoes three to four weeks of renovations.
The Waltman Rest Area along U.S. Highway 20/26 between Casper and Shoshoni closed Monday to put in upgrades that include new toilets, plumbing and tile, along with a new door for the main entrance.
It’s one of the most significant upgrades to the rest area in a decade, but having to close the area down for four weeks is too long for many who use it, and they’re letting the Wyoming Department of Transportation know about it.
“I've been taking more phone calls about this than any highway construction project,” WYDOT spokesman Cody Beers told Cowboy State Daily. “We apologize for any inconvenience this causes, but unfortunately, it's the reality of the work.”
Renovated To Last
The Waltman Rest Area is one of the busiest in the Cowboy State except for those along Interstate 80. Beers said the maintenance and resources WYDOT needs to keep all of Wyoming’s rest areas open and functioning is “extremely high.”
When WYDOT renovates a rest area, the department must look beyond whatever’s in stock at the nearest Walmart.
It could be years before the time and resources are available for upgrades that go above and beyond normal maintenance.
Beers said the last renovation to the Waltman Rest Area included tilework and bathroom stalls. Fixtures for the bathrooms must be able to provide and endure their utilitarian purposes, so they’re built to last.
The hardware at the Waltman Rest Area was outdated and “worn out,” Beers said. While the facilities at Waltman haven’t been “used to death,” he said it’s time for an upgrade.
“WYDOT put out a base bid for flush valves, water closets, urinals and hand-cleaning station for almost $40,000,” he said. “Everything’s a little bit more durable than what you'd buy for your house, and it’s all handicapped accessible.”
That’s It (But No Promises)
Beers said the news of the Waltman Rest Area’s renovation has flooded his phone and social media posts with concerns about the closure.
The popular stop has been busy (and temporarily closed) over the last few summers.
WYDOT did extensive work on Waltman’s sewer system in 2022 and repaved the parking lot in 2023. Both summer projects temporarily closed the rest area when U.S. Highway 20/26 was at its busiest.
The contractor for this summer’s renovation is required to provide portable toilets for the duration of the closure.
While everyone can still make a pit stop there, they’ll have to wait until the renovation’s finished to use the new flush valves and water closets.
Beers said this summer’s renovation came right when WYDOT was flush with cash allocated explicitly to renovating the Waltman Rest Area.
He’s hopeful this renovation will be the last project for many years that could require a temporary closure but wouldn’t make any promises.
“It's unfortunate that it's happening right now, but that's the way it is,” he said. “You work with contractors, and you order stuff. When those two things line up, then you do the work. The reality is that you do the work when you've got the contractor and the equipment to install.”
Andrew Rossi can be reached at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.
