Early Repairs Begin to Restore Green River Tunnel Following February Accident

Work is underway to restore the westbound Green River Tunnel on Interstate 80, which has remained closed since a devastating 26-vehicle crash in February, Cowboy State Daily reports.

The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) has launched initial repairs totaling $1.78 million to address critical lighting and concrete damage, with the goal of reopening the tunnel before the onset of winter.

The tunnel closure followed a fiery, multi-truck collision on Feb. 14 that resulted in three fatalities and extensive damage to the tunnel’s infrastructure. The westbound side of the tunnel, located near Green River, plays a vital role on I-80—a major transcontinental route connecting California to New Jersey.

“We wanted to get a jump on two big jobs while our designers work on the plan for repairing the tunnel walls,” said WYDOT spokesperson Stephanie Harsha. “We are still shooting to have that tunnel open before winter.”

On May 27, the Wyoming Transportation Commission approved two emergency contracts to fast-track repair work. The larger, valued at $1.03 million, was awarded to lighting manufacturer Holophane to replace the tunnel’s damaged lighting system. The second, worth $753,550, went to DeBernardi Construction of Rock Springs to repair pavement and perform surface cleaning of undamaged tunnel sections.

Holophane will be responsible for removing and replacing the entire lighting and electrical infrastructure inside the tunnel, which was severely compromised during the accident.

“The lights and bulbs were totally incinerated,” said Rob DeBernardi, vice president of DeBernardi Construction. “Even the concrete on the walls was burnt. There’s nothing to salvage.”

DeBernardi crews began work this week, removing the remaining ceiling components to prepare for concrete repairs. Once the infrastructure is cleared, pavement restoration and surface treatment will proceed.

According to Harsha, final design plans for the full repair are expected by late June, with bidding to follow in early July. WYDOT has conducted extensive assessments of the tunnel’s condition, including LiDAR scanning, to inform the repair design.

“Until the designs are complete, we won’t know the final cost,” Harsha added.

However, the phased approach—beginning with tasks that can be completed now—will help accelerate the timeline once the full repair plan is approved.

Despite the ongoing work, traffic disruptions are expected to remain minimal. Since the crash, two-way traffic has been rerouted through the eastbound tunnel, and that temporary solution will remain in place until the westbound tunnel reopens.

DeBernardi emphasized the value of getting ahead on early-stage repairs.

“All this work has to be done eventually,” he said. “By starting now, WYDOT can hit the ground running once the rest of the plan is ready.”

WYDOT’s stated goal remains clear: reopen the westbound tunnel before the 2025–2026 winter season.