Big Springs, Nebraska – Winter weather in neighboring Wyoming has forced officials to close westbound Interstate 80 near Big Springs, stopping traffic headed toward the state line.
According to the Nebraska State Patrol, westbound I-80 is closed from the I-76 junction at Big Springs to the Wyoming border near Pine Bluffs due to hazardous weather conditions affecting travel in Wyoming.
Transportation officials said the closure starts near mile marker 105, roughly three miles west of the Big Springs area, and continues to the state line. State patrol officials issued the alert to westbound drivers late Sunday morning.
The shutdown impacts one of the region’s main east-west freight corridors, frequently used by long-haul trucks and cross-country travelers moving between Nebraska, Colorado, and Wyoming.
Authorities are urging drivers traveling west to take Interstate 76 into Colorado as an alternate route or consider stopping and waiting until conditions improve before continuing toward Wyoming.
Images from transportation cameras show snow-covered roadways and reduced visibility along the corridor, which contributed to the decision to close the interstate.
Officials have not yet announced when the interstate will reopen. Conditions in Wyoming will largely determine when traffic can safely resume.
Drivers are encouraged to check Nebraska and Wyoming road condition systems before heading west on I-80.
The closure could also impact regional commuters, delivery drivers, and students traveling across western Nebraska during the weekend.
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