GREEN RIVER – The Sweetwater County Travel & Tourism Board (SWCTTB) held a ribbon average at the Flaming Gorge Gateway Sign on US HWY 191 South on Wednesday, June 9, to approve the designation of the Flaming Gorge – Green River Basin Scenic Byway as All-American celebrate street.
The SWCTT board along with several partners around the Byway filed an application with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in 2020 and the application was successful, making the Byway one of only 37 designated All-American Roads in the country.
“This has been a dream for over 20 years,” said Jenissa Meredith, executive director of Sweetwater County Travel and Tourism. “I was fortunate to have helped prepare this proposal over a decade ago as Dave Hanks, former CEO of Rock
Springs Chamber of Commerce, accepted me into the project. ”
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“It is a great honor to see this designation finally become a reality,” she added.
In total, the FHWA announced 49 new names for the America’s Byways® collection, including 15 All-American Roads (AAR) and 34 National Scenic Byways (NSB) in 28 states. This brings the number of America’s Byways® to 184 in 48 states.
Highest award
All-American Road is the highest level of designation and is reserved for back roads that provide an experience so extraordinary that travelers make driving along the route the primary reason for their trip. This is the first time since 2009 that the FHWA has selected new Scenic Byways and All-American Roads.
The National Scenic Byways Program, established in 1991, is a collaborative effort to identify, maintain, and improve select roads in the United States. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) recognizes certain roads for one or more archaeological, cultural, historical, natural, recreational, and scenic qualities.
On September 22, 2019, the Reviving America’s Scenic Byways Act of 2019 was signed by the President and incorporated into public law 116-57. This law requires the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to obtain nominations for specific roads designated as National Scenic Byways or All-American Roads under the National Scenic Byways program for their archaeological, cultural, historical, natural, recreational, and landscape characteristics
Qualities.
“With their many unique qualities, each of these new additions to the National Scenic Byways program helps America’s Roads tell our national story,” said Tom Everett, executive director of FHWA. “These special routes offer travelers exciting new ways to explore the nation from coast to coast or near their home country.”
The Flaming Gorge – Green River Basin route runs in the southwest corner of Wyoming on two north-south roads that extend south from I-80 to the Utah state line and parallel to the Green River and the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area run away.
The site is approximately 275 miles south of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks and 180 miles east of Salt Lake City, Utah. The natural landscape of the byway is extensive with diverse habitats that are largely untouched by human interference, which makes relaxation plentiful and the experience particularly pleasant.
But it is the ride itself over the vast panorama of land and sky that is awe-inspiring, of national importance, and
deserves the title All-American Road.
“The Flaming Gorge is by far our greatest tourist capital. This designation will provide funding opportunities and bring this area to the fore like never before for travelers, ”added Meredith.
Contributors to the CPM update were:
Travel and Tourism in Sweetwater County – Jenissa Meredith
Flaming Gorge Corporation – Jerry Taylor
Red Canyon Lodge & Flaming Gorge – Uintas National Scenic Byway – Mark Wilson
Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce – Rick Lee
Green River Chamber of Commerce – Lisa Herrera
Ashley National Forest & Flaming Gorge – Uintas NSB – Don Jacques
Utah Division of Wildlife – Ron Stewart
Intermountain Natural History Association – Richard Millett
Land Management Office – Kimberly Foster
Wyoming Department of Transportation – Janelle Leonard
Corridor solutions – Wanda Maloney
“We are so happy to have such exceptional partners both locally and in Utah. This naming would not have been possible without the joint efforts of all key participants and corridor partners, ”said Meredith.
In addition, the corridor management plan had to be updated in preparation for the application. Stakeholders focused on re-evaluating visitor experience needs and alternative options for providing information, and developing strategies to continue leveraging the expertise of Byway’s public and private partners and building on marketing success.
“The goal of nominating the Flaming Gorge – Green River Basin Scenic Byway as an All-American Road has been fully endorsed and championed by Sweetwater County Travel & Tourism and major business owners in Utah and Wyoming since 2010,” said Malone. “Sweetwater County Travel & Tourism provided funding for advisor support to Corridor Solutions (CS) to develop the nomination. CS has worked with the Byway organizations in Utah and Wyoming since 2010 and values the combined corridor experience and the importance of the intrinsic qualities of each state. ”
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