Riverton – Traffic patterns changed March 12 on Federal Boulevard in Riverton with the beginning of a $5 million highway improvement project. A cone zone with two-way restricted traffic will be the norm through the spring and summer as the Federal Boulevard-Monroe Avenue intersection and road between Monroe and Washington avenues are reconstructed. Delivery of pipe and prefabricated concrete manholes had delays early in the project, but asphalt pavement milling is continuing as scheduled. The contractor began excavation activities mid-March. Prime contractor for the project is Reiman Corp., of Cheyenne. Aspects of the project include concrete paving, curb and gutter, sidewalk and a new traffic signal at the Federal-Monroe intersection ($2.9 million); new water and sanitary sewer lines ($918,000); a new storm sewer system ($760,000); and new street lighting along Federal Boulevard ($460,000). Most of the funding for the project is coming from federal highway funding, but WYDOT and city of Riverton funding are also being used to help reconstruct this section of Federal Boulevard/Monroe Avenue. “Reiman Corp. and its excavation subcontractor, Archer Construction of Riverton, began by shifting traffic on Federal to the west side of the street from Monroe Avenue to Washington Avenue,” said WYDOT Resident Engineer Robert Scheidemantel of Riverton. “This activity includes closing the two east lanes and part of the center-line of Federal Boulevard. Two-way traffic – one lane northbound, one lane southbound – will be maintained at all times during this transition and subsequent construction.” Scheidemantel said while the east lanes of Federal Boulevard are closed the contractor will be removing the existing pavement in order to replace the existing water and sewer systems. New curb and gutter, sidewalks, and water and sewer
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facilities will be installed before the new concrete paving. Access to businesses will be maintained and clearly signed at all times during highway improvement activities, Scheidemantel said. Citizens, business owners and media are invited to attend a 2 p.m. work meeting every Thursday at El Durango located within the project on Federal Boulevard. The contract completion date is Sept. 30.
Highway improvements resuming east of Cody; traffic delays expected Cody – With improving weather and frost leaving the ground, work is resuming on the $12.3 million highway improvement project on Cody’s east edge, according to WYDOT resident engineer Todd Frost in Cody. “Rotomilling activities began March 17 from Beacon Hill Road to West Cooper Lane,” said WYDOT Resident Engineer Todd Frost in Cody. “The contractor will remove pavement from the north half of the roadway, and pavement will be left on the south half with two-way traffic movements on the south half.” Frost said the pavement is being removed so storm sewer can be placed through this area, and other dirt fill operations and pipe work are occurring throughout the project. Citizens should continue to expect traffic delays of up to 10 minutes through the project. When working on the project, the contractor will be required to maintain two-way traffic throughout the area without delays, with the exception of one flagger station, between 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. and between 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. “This commuting-time flagger station will stop traffic just long enough to allow ingress and egress for haul of contractor-furnished materials on and off the project,” Frost said. “The remainder of the time the cumulative delay of 10 minutes maximum will be allowed, and traffic will be led through the work zone with pilot vehicles.” Other work includes an irrigation ditch crossing through U.S. 14A about 1,000 feet to the west of Beacon Hill Road. “Half of the pipe will be installed while traffic is being carried on the other half
of the roadway. The contractor will also be working on other irrigation items throughout the project.” The Sage Creek bridge subcontractor, CC&G, Inc., of Lander, is currently working on the north half of the new bridge. “Bridge piers are their current focus, and bridge abutment work is starting this week,” Frost said. Traffic across Sage Creek bridge is being carried on the south half of the new bridge while the north half is being constructed. The speed limit across the new bridge is 35 mph, and a 12-foot width restriction is in place across the bridge and throughout the project. About 3.5 miles of U.S. 14A is being widened to five lanes with a continuous turn lane and eight-foot shoulders. This project is the final section in a long-term series of projects to widen 24 miles of U.S. 14A between Cody and Powell. Oftedal Construction, Inc., with offices in Miles City, Mont. and Casper, is the prime contractor of the Cody East highway improvement project. The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded the U.S. 14A project to Oftedal in May 2013. Oftedal’s scope of work includes grading, draining, milling of existing asphalt pavement, placing pit run subbase and crushed gravel, asphalt paving and paving of asphalt wearing course, chip sealing, removal and replacement of the Sage Creek bridge, installing concrete pavement, installing roadway lighting and electrical work, and installing guardrail, fencing and other work on 3.45 miles of U.S. 14A and Wyoming 114 beginning at milepost 2.20 (West Cooper Lane) between Cody and Powell.
Photo: WYDOT
Federal/Monroe highway improvements began March 12 in Riverton
Cody East highway improvements resume with the improving weather this spring.
Briefs continued on page 20 April 2014
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