‘Trump Interstate’ Proposed For All 1,800 Miles Of Highway 287, Lummis Supports

The more than 460 miles of U.S. Highway 287 that meanders northwest through Wyoming from the Colorado border through Yellowstone National Park will be forever linked with President Donald Trump if federal legislation designates it Interstate 47, known as the “Trump Interstate.” A bill introduced Monday by Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn and co-sponsored by Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis would rename the nearly 1,800 miles of U.S. 287 as I-47.

The highway starts in Port Arthur, Texas, and runs through Oklahoma, Colorado, and Wyoming before ending in Choteau, Montana. In Wyoming, it runs a winding 463-mile northwest route from the Colorado border near Tie Siding through multiple cities before hitting the South Entrance to Yellowstone. Wyoming gave Trump the most support by percentage in all three of his presidential elections, including 71% in 2024.

State Rep. John Bear said he would support the effort. “I think honoring this president is a great idea,” he told Cowboy State Daily. “I think we had the highest percentage of support for him … so it should be right here.”

Not everyone is a fan. Laramie Mayor Sharon Cumbie, whose city is one of Wyoming’s politically blue enclaves, was horrified. She called the bill “a political statement” and expressed concerns that another interstate running into Laramie could be more than the city can handle. “It would be devastating,” she said, adding that it would run against Laramie’s long-term vision of being a small, walkable city. As for Lummis being a co-sponsor, “It looks like a political stunt,” Cumbie said. “Maybe she’s been in Washington too long.”

Lummis said the bill could do good for Wyoming. “I’m always looking for ways to upgrade Wyoming’s roads, and U.S. 287 should be at the top of the list,” she said. “Upgrading U.S. 287 to an interstate designation means safer roads, faster freight movement, and more investment coming back to Wyoming. Naming it in honor of President Trump seemed only fitting, considering his love for rebuilding America’s roads and infrastructure.”

The bill’s text calls only for designating U.S. 287 as future I-47, addressing naming without outlining upgrades. The Wyoming Department of Transportation said the news was new to them. Spokeswoman Jordan Young noted that 287 is currently a two-lane highway through most of the state. “Making it an interstate would be interesting,” she said. If the change is only a renaming, the impact would be minimal, mostly signage. If it involves widening lanes, that could be significant.

Fremont County Commissioner Michael Jones said regardless of the name, upgrading 287 would be an economic driver. “Call it your Uncle Bob, I don’t care,” he said. “If something like this happened, I think the benefit would be good.” But Dubois Mayor Patricia Neveaux said her town already feels like an interstate runs through it every summer with tourist traffic. “I don’t think I would be very happy,” she said, noting speeding traffic is already a headache. In Rawlins, restaurant owner Michael Lujan said he would welcome it. “As a businessman who believes in this country, this is a cool thing,” he said. “Will it happen? Who knows, but I think it should really be considered.”