Northern Wyoming News - Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is scheduled to cut power Monday, Feb. 29, to the lights inside the big tunnel on U.S. 14-16-20 west of Cody.

The power outage is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Feb. 29, and the power outage is scheduled to end about 3 p.m. on Thursday, March 3.

Drivers are advised to pay heed to the signs at each end of the tunnels, advising people to “Turn Headlights On For Safety” when driving through the tunnels.

“The signs are black and white, which means Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers can cite drivers who don’t comply with the signs’ message. It’s a good idea to turn on your lights anyway for safety, and turning your headlights on will definitely improve visibility during the upcoming planned power outage,” said Cody Beers, Wyoming Department of Transportation public relations specialist in Riverton. “Drivers are also reminded of the 35 mph speed limit when driving through the tunnels.”

The Bureau of Reclamation power outage will take place on the 6.9 kV power line near the tunnels. The power line is also connected to a Bureau of Reclamation transformer, which in turn feeds a Western Area Power Administration metering cabinet. This cabinet feeds another power line, which feeds the Wyoming Department of Transportation tunnel lights and exhaust fans.