Why Does I-180 In Wyoming Have Traffic Lights?

There is part of Wyoming's interstate system that runs through Cheyenne, Wyoming, that has stoplights. Wait, an interstate with stoplights? That's not supposed to be a thing. Interstates are supposed to be limited access without lights to keep the traffic moving.

So where is this and how did it happen?

It's the 1-mile route running from I-80 north to the Lincoln Way junction. Yes, that is part of the interstate system. It is one of the only Interstate highways in the lower 48 states to feature at-grade stoplights.

When I-180 was constructed, building overpasses to cross the Union Pacific Railroad yard and other downtown streets was more than the federal government wanted to pay. The feds ultimately granted Wyoming an exception to build the route with these at-grade signalized intersections.

Cheyenne is not the only place in the nation where this exception was made.

Interstate 19 (Nogales, Arizona)
Interstate 69E (Brownsville, Texas)
Interstate 78 (Jersey City, New Jersey)
Interstate 10 (West Texas)

You may have driven this short section of I80 in Cheyenne and not known that you were actually on an interstate. It really does seem like a part of Cheyenne's regular road system, but it's not.

Wyoming has considered making I-80 a toll road to help pay the state's share of the cost. Is there such a thing as interstates with tolls?

Yes, approximately 6% of the 46,876-mile Interstate Highway System has tolls. While 94% is toll-free, major cross-country and localized routes feature tolled sections. Major tolled interstates include I-90 (Indiana, Ohio, New York, Massachusetts), I-95 (East Coast), I-76 (Pennsylvania), and I-80 (Ohio, Indiana, Illinois).