On the steep grades of Wyoming’s Teton Pass, a new kind of safety engineering is quietly changing how runaway vehicles are stopped. The CatchNET truck arrestor — a compact, energy-absorbing cable-and-net system — has become one of the most talked-about safety installations in the nation.
With more than a dozen independent news features and zero reported injuries, this field-tested innovation proves that precision engineering saves lives — and headlines.
16+
Media features referencing CatchNET/Teton Pass
0
Serious injuries reported in covered incidents
2
Systems installed statewide (WY-22 & US-16)
A Steep Problem Meets a Space Constraint
Teton Pass (WY-22) ranks among the most demanding mountain corridors in North America — grades exceeding 10%, blind curves, and no available footprint for a conventional gravel runaway ramp.
Traditional solutions were impossible to fit safely within the terrain. WYDOT engineers needed a compact, high-performance system capable of absorbing the energy of an 80,000-lb truck in motion.
CatchNET: Smart Energy Absorption for Limited Space
The CatchNET system uses layered steel nets, anchored cables, and energy-absorbing spools to decelerate a runaway vehicle in a controlled sequence.
Each net progressively absorbs energy through friction and deformation — effectively turning kinetic chaos into a smooth stop.
It meets AASHTO Roadside Design Guide, MASH, FMCSA, and FRA guidelines, ensuring full regulatory compliance for both highway and rail applications.
From Engineering Model to Real-World Success
Since installation, the system has been activated multiple times on Teton Pass and U.S. 16. Each activation has ended with the same result: no serious injuries, minimal damage, and a fully operational system ready for immediate reset.
WYDOT’s transparency — publishing each incident through local media — has turned these events into living proof of safety innovation that works.
“It’s not often that an engineered system becomes part of the public conversation for all the right reasons.”
— Regional Safety Engineer, WYDOT District 3
From Local Innovation to National Benchmark
Coverage from Buckrail, Cowboy State Daily, and K2 Radio has highlighted the CatchNET’s repeated success, inspiring interest from DOTs nationwide.
What began as a pilot in Wyoming now serves as a reference model for mountainous corridors across the western United States — a compact, proven alternative to conventional escape ramps.
Smart Safety Scales
The CatchNET demonstrates that smaller footprints can yield major impact when design, regulation, and field data converge.
For agencies facing topographic or spatial constraints, it’s a blueprint for engineering excellence with measurable results.
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