Update 4:20 p.m. - Interstate 80 has reopened at Rawlins. Natrona County Emergency Management officials say traffic in Casper should begin decreasing Friday night as vehicles resume their travels along the Interstate.

A massive traffic tie-up in Casper and Natrona County is the result of the closure of Interstate 80 at Rawlins. Natrona County Emergency Management Director Stu Anderson is urging all drivers to avoid Highway 220 and Wyoming Boulevard until further notice. The heavy traffic is causing lengthy delays.

Anderson says traffic is backed up from I-25 around WY Blvd to CY to at least Robertson Rd. Hwy 220 experiencing heavy traffic as well.

Jeff Goetz with WYDOT says blowing snow, icy conditions and numerous crashes resulted in the closures on I-80 between Rawlins and Cheyenne. He said all available resources have been used to keep the westbound lanes open, while the eastbound lanes have remained closed since Thursday evening.
WYDOT reports eastbound traffic has been diverted north to Casper during the closures. At 1:54 p.m. Friday, Interstate 80 reopened between Laramie and Cheyenne, but the eastbound lanes were still closed from Rawlins to Laramie, so traffic was continuing to be detoured through Casper.

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