CHEYENNE, Wyo. — On July 24, Cleveland Avenue was closed at Pershing Boulevard to traffic. When Cap City News reported the closure, a bevy of commenters reported frustration and lack of knowledge regarding the road’s fate.
Over the past week, we have received additional information from the City of Cheyenne and WYDOT on the issues Cleveland Avenue presented to drivers. Since 2019, WYDOT and the city have held three public meetings to discuss the US 30/Whitney Road/Dell Range Boulevard project, according to Andrea Staley, senior public relations specialist with WYDOT. The Cleveland Avenue closure is just one part of this ongoing project.
The Cleveland/Pershing intersection resulted in a high vehicle crash rate due to drivers turning out of Cleveland onto Pershing, according to Matt Murphy, public information officer with the City of Cheyenne. As such, the city recommended the street closure in its 2019 East Dell Range/US 30 Corridor Study.
“The closely located access of Cleveland Ave. to Pershing Boulevard should be removed to improve safety by reducing turning movements and reduce confusion for drivers, and should be replaced with a wide sidewalk,” according to the report. “It is suggested that a new road to be required to be constructed with new development, connecting Pershing Boulevard to Uintah Road.”
The report also recommends improving the sidewalk at Cleveland accessing Pershing. The path would be a 10-foot-wide trail that links to the path along College Drive to the trail along US 30.
Aside from prohibiting vehicles from turning onto Cleveland Avenue off Pershing, the city announced development of a new cul-de-sac at the former intersection. The cul-de-sac is currently being constructed on the south side of Cleveland Avenue next to Pershing Boulevard. Development will last a few weeks, Murphy said, and the cul-de-sac will then be paved once work is complete on the mainline US 30 road.
A full copy of the East Dell Range Boulevard/US 30 Corridor Study can be viewed below.
