CHEYENNE (WNE) — The Wyoming Department of Transportation is the recipient of a 2023 Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity discretionary grant to help fund the redesign of the Interstate 80/Interstate 25 interchange in Cheyenne.

“This is the third time we’ve applied for federal grant funding for this interchange, so we are thrilled to have the chance to move forward,” Keith Fulton, WYDOT assistant chief engineer of engineering and planning, said in a news release.

The $13 million grant will help fund the final design work for a new interchange configuration, where the two busy interstates meet.

“The current cloverleaf design is obsolete, and the sharp, tight curves, paired with vehicle weaving, and insufficient acceleration and deceleration lanes can create issues for freight and other traffic movement,” Fulton said in the release.

The RAISE grant does not fund any construction work, but Fulton explained that design work is crucial before any shovels can hit the dirt.

“Once we have a final design, we can better estimate construction costs and possible phasing of projects,” he said.