After an explosive 26-vehicle crash that charred and tattered the concrete lining of the westbound tunnel on Interstate 80 outside Green River, the Wyoming Department of Transportation has opened eastbound tunnel for two-way traffic, the department announced Thursday.
The eastbound tunnel is open to handle the detour six days after the Friday crash, which killed three people and has left another in the hospital throughout the week.
Before the eastbound tunnel opened, authorities routed an extra 18,000 vehicles a day through the town of Green River, amid traffic congestion and underground infrastructure concerns.
The two-way tunnel route involved the placement of more than 5,000 feet of concrete barrier, additional traffic control signage and devices to guide the vehicles through, says a Thursday statement by the Wyoming Department of Transportation.
“We are treating it a lot like a typical construction zone on Interstate 80, but with some added safety measures,” said WYDOT District 3 Engineer John Eddins in the statement.
Vehicles are restricted to 35 mph in the area, and drivers should plan for delays.
Congestion will still be a factor, said Eddins.
The eastbound tunnel has a 10.5-foot width and a 16-foot height restriction. Oversized vehicles should contact the Wyoming Highway Patrol’s oversize loads permit office for detours, says the statement.
“WYDOT would like to thank DeBernardi Construction and S&L Industrial for their hard work and quick response in installing all the necessary traffic control so we could get traffic moving on the interstate again,” said Eddins.
Meanwhile, crews are working in the westbound tunnel to clean it and assess it, “so motorists are asked to drive cautiously and be aware of roadside workers and vehicles,” the statement adds.
‘Oh Big Time’
Steve Core, Green River communications administrator, said the change to the traffic pattern in town is extremely noticeable.
“Oh, big time,” said Core of the change, adding that less traffic congestion means people can get around town with more ease. “You don’t realize how much traffic you have on Interstate 80 until it’s running right through your downtown.”
The city’s crews are “cold patching,” or heaping cold asphalt in some of the potholes the massive traffic influx has caused along Flaming Gorge Way, he said.
The city also sent two snowplows to plow snow at the eastbound tunnel Wednesday night after a snowstorm. Core said WYDOT’s plows at the site were too big for the modified tunnel.
In a later online statement, WYDOT district 3 engineer John Eddins countered, saying WYDOT plows can fit in the tunnel.
With the westbound lane of Interstate 80 through the Green River Tunnel closed, a lot of commercial truck traffic is moving through the small southwest Wyoming city. (Zak Sonntag, Cowboy State Daily) 
From the charred westbound lane of the Green River Tunnel on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025. (Clair McFarland, Cowboy State Daily) 
Burned vehicles inside Green River tunnel on Sunday, February 16, 2025. (Courtesy: WYDOT) 
An investigation is underway at the Green River Tunnel along Interstate 80 after a fatal multi-vehicle crash sparked explosions and an intense fire inside Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Wyoming Department of Transportation) 
Smoke pouring out of Green River tunnels on I-80 on Friday, February 14, 2025 (Photo: David Brewer)
Update: This story has been updated to include a post-publication comment by WYDOT district 3 engineer John Eddins.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
