Wyoming Has Expanded Evanston Truck Parking Capacity

A $40 million construction project will add 365 truck parking spaces near the Bear River exit.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Trucks

Wide view of a large, freshly graded construction site for a parking lot with heavy machinery and wide-open landscape under a bright sky. — The Wyoming Department of Transportation has launched a $40 million project to add 365 truck parking spaces near Evanston, aiming to improve safety for commercial drivers. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should local visitor parking areas allow commercial trucks to park during overnight shortages?

Wyoming has launched a $40 million project to significantly increase truck parking capacity near Evanston. The expansion aims to alleviate severe infrastructure shortages that have forced drivers to rely on unauthorized spaces.

Why it matters

The project addresses a critical shortage of rest stops that often forces commercial drivers to utilize unsafe or unauthorized parking areas. Improved infrastructure is intended to better manage truck traffic during interstate closures.

The expansion will add 365 truck parking spaces to the local inventory. This follows a 2022 state-commissioned study that highlighted significant capacity deficits along the corridor.

The players

Wyoming Department of Transportation

This state agency manages the infrastructure, maintenance, and safety of Wyoming highways.

Whitaker Construction Co. Inc.

This firm is the lead contractor responsible for executing the expansion of the parking facilities.

American Trucking Associations

This national organization represents the trucking industry and tracks national freight and infrastructure trends.

The details

The Wyoming Department of Transportation commissioned the project to be executed by Whitaker Construction Co. Inc. The work has necessitated the closure of existing eastbound and westbound parking areas near the Bear River exit.

A truck parking study was commissioned in 2022.
State parking areas were closed for construction on July 13, 2026.
Construction is set to pause for winter on October 31, 2026.
The expansion project is scheduled for completion on October 31, 2028.

Roadmap

This project reflects a broader movement to modernize interstate infrastructure to match the demands of the freight industry. By addressing the parking gap, Wyoming positions itself to improve corridor efficiency against national capacity benchmarks.

The construction project impacts daily travel through Evanston by closing state-designated parking areas until late 2028. Drivers and residents should anticipate increased truck utilization of visitor centers and city streets during this period.

The takeaway

The multi-year construction schedule highlights the long-term nature of addressing critical infrastructure gaps in the freight sector. Drivers should plan routes carefully to account for limited parking availability in the Evanston area through 2028.