The western edge of Powell is getting some more focus from the Wyoming Department of Transportation between now and next year. 

Here’s to hoping the department capitalizes well during the time and finds a good solution to the issue of the sometimes bottlenecked and unsafe conditions around the seemingly ever popular Albertsons. 

From talking with Jack Hoffman, the district traffic engineer, WYDOT has ideas about how to fix the bottleneck issue with a proposal to move the entrance to the Albertsons parking lot east (toward town) and potentially make it somewhat wider so vehicles aren’t entering directly into the middle of the lot but on one side to allow a better flow of vehicles in and out. 

It seems to be an idea that could work, but hopefully it's paired with serious consideration of something that would be far simpler and that, while it might not solve the bottleneck issue, should make the area safer: extend the 35 mph speed limit out past Albertsons and Bloedorns. 

Hoffman said a previous study from a couple years ago did not provide statistics to warrant lowering the speed limit, but WYDOT workers recently wrapped up a new study on the traffic flows in various parts of town this year, including on U.S. Highway 14A around Albertsons. Hoffman said they should have those results in the fall. 

At the request of City of Powell officials, WYDOT studied the 45 mph zone around Albertsons in 2023, but concluded the current limit is appropriate. A district traffic engineer told a city official at the time that, based on the data they’d gathered, there was “no chance of lowering the speed limit.”

WYDOT also studied the possibility of adding a stop light at the highway’s intersection with Mountain View Street, but found there wasn’t enough traffic.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see the statistics have changed with more residents in the area and more people regularly going to the grocery store. 

Anecdotally, as someone who drives by the 45 mph sign, then Mountain View and Albertsons every evening after work, driving the speed limit at a busy time of day, with all the cars trying to either turn onto the street or into the parking lot, or trying to turn right or left onto the highway, can be dangerous. 

Hopefully WYDOT’s new study proves what many Powell residents already believe.