| Eastbound Interstate 90 approaches Exit 102, Barber Creek Road. On this late summer day, the skies turned dark, with lightning streaking across the sky. Very little rain fell in association with this storm near here, but rain did fall near Gillette. Photo taken 09/01/04.
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| The next exit along eastbound is Exit 106, Kingsbury Road. This exit again provides local and ranch access. Photo taken 09/01/04.
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| Seven miles east of Kingsbury Road is the next exit, Exit 113, Wild Horse Creek Road. Photo taken 09/01/04.
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| The next exit along eastbound Interstate 90 is Exit 116, Force Road. As we now enter the Gillette metropolitan area, signs of civilization emerge. In addition, the railroad rejoins Interstate 90 in Gillette, after being separated since leaving Sheridan. Photo taken 09/01/04.
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| Due to a late-afternoon thunderstorm, most of the signs approaching Exit 124 (Junction Business Loop I-90, U.S. 14-16, and Wyoming 50) were not salvageable. In this photo, several splotches of water obscured portions of the sign and the landscape behind the sign. This exit serves Wyoming 50 south to Midwest via a connection with Wyoming 387. It also connects to Business Loop I-90 and U.S. 14-16 east to the city of Gillette, one of the fastest growing areas of the state of Wyoming, primarily due to a boom in the extraction of coal and natural gas from the mineral-laden hills. Finally, this exit connects to U.S. 14-16 west to Ucross and Wyoming 59 north to Broadus, Montana, via eastbound Business Loop I-90. Photo taken 09/01/04.
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| Another storm cell was brewing just east of Wyoming 59 (which is the next exit, Exit 126) at the time this photo was taken. Wyoming 59 is a major north-south route that passes through the Powder River Basin, passing through Wright and Bill on its way south to Douglas. Wyoming 59 also travels north into downtown Gillette and then continues into Broadus, Montana, as Montana 59. Photo taken 09/01/04.
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| Eastbound Interstate 90 reaches Exit 126, Junction Wyoming 59 south. All services are available here, including most department stores, restaurants, hotels, grocery stores, gas stations, etc. Photo taken 09/01/04.
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| Now on the offramp from eastbound Interstate 90, a pair of trailblazer Wyoming 59 shields are posted. Photo taken 09/01/04.
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| A left turn takes Wyoming 59 north to downtown Gillette and a right turn connects to Wyoming 59 south to Wright, Bill, and Douglas. Most of the main commercial development ("big box" stores) are located south of Interstate 90 along Wyoming 59. Photo taken 09/01/04.
| Interstate 90 and U.S. 14-16 East
| The next exit along eastbound Interstate 90 is Exit 128, Junction Business Loop I-90 and U.S. 14-16 west to Gillette and Wyoming 51 east to Rozet. Wyoming 51 becomes a frontage road, following Interstate 90 and providing access to the coal mines south of the Interstate. Interstate 90 and U.S. 14-16 follow a shared alignment from here to Moorcroft in Crook County. Photo taken 09/01/04.
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| Eastbound Interstate 90 and U.S. 14-16 reaches Exit 129, Garner Lake Road. Photo taken 09/01/04.
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| This mileage sign provides the distance to Moorcroft (25 miles), Sundance (58 miles), and Rapid City, South Dakota (136 miles). Rapid City becomes the control city for eastbound Interstate 90 as the freeway continues east toward the Black Hills. Photo taken 09/01/04.
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| The next exit along eastbound Interstate 90 is Exit 132, Wyodak Road. Wyodak Road serves a large coal mine and adjacent power generation facility. A series of power lines emanate from the power plant, and they pass over Interstate 90. In addition, the Interstate crosses over a coal-laden vein, with open pits mining the coal on both the north and south sides of the freeway. An open question is whether the coal beneath Interstate 90 would someday be mined as well. Photo taken 09/01/04.
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| Eastbound Interstate 90 and U.S. 14-16 reaches Exit 132, Wyodak Road. For more on the coal mining and power generation facility, visit the Wyodak Resources (WRD) web page. According to the Wyodak webpage, "Wyodak is believed to be the oldest operating surface coal mine in the nation with an annual production of 4.8 million tons in 2004." Apparently there is enough coal in the area (294 million tons in reserve) to ensure needs from existing coal contracts are met for at least 59 years. Photo taken 09/01/04.
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| The next exit along eastbound Interstate 90 and U.S. 14-16 is Exit 141, Adon Road in Rozet. Photo taken 09/01/04.
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Page Updated October 30, 2005.
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