District Briefs

Headquarters Commission awards nearly $9.6 million in contracts in March

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded almost $9.6 million in contracts for five Wyoming Department of Transportation construction projects during its March 16 regular business meeting.

The commission awarded a $6.17 million bid to Gillette-based S&S Builders, LLC, for a project involving bridge rehabilitation, traffic control, paving and other work in various locations within Johnson, Laramie, Natrona and Niobrara Counties. The contracted completion date is October 15, 2024.

Afton-based Avail Valley Construction-WY, LLC, was awarded a $1.18 million bid for a project involving grading, seeding, erosion control, traffic control and other work on Wyoming Highway 351 in Sublette County. The contracted completion date is October 31, 2024.

A nearly $1.26 million bid was awarded to Cowley-based S&L Industrial for a project involving paving, concrete work, traffic control and other work at various locations within Albany, Big Horn, Campbell, Carbon, Crook, Fremont, Goshen, Johnson, Laramie, Natrona, Niobrara, Park, Platte, Sheridan, Sweetwater, Washakie and Weston Counties. The contracted completion date is October 31, 2023.

The commission awarded an $800,076 bid to Casper-based 71 Construction for a project involving grading, paving, seeding, erosion control and other work on Wyoming Highway 789 in Fremont County. The contracted completion date is November 30, 2023.

Also based in Casper, Modern Electric Co. was awarded an $180,310 bid for a project involving electrical work, traffic control and other work on Wyoming Highway 238 and US Highway 89 in Lincoln County. The contracted completion date is June 30, 2024.

All of this month’s awarded projects are primarily funded with federal dollars.

Almost all WYDOT projects are awarded to the lowest bid.

WHP K-9 assist law enforcement in finding Fentanyl

CHEYENNE – A Wyoming Highway Patrol K-9 handler was called to assist special agents with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation March 9 near Evanston. The special agents had contacted an individual at a gas station and became suspicious of criminal activity.

The WHP trooper arrived and deployed his K-9 partner. The handler observed a positive, trained final response to the odor of drugs inside the vehicle. A vehicle search resulted in the trooper seizing 1,349 M30 Fentanyl pills, 3.89 pounds of methamphetamine, and a pistol.

The arrested subject was a convicted felon and was not allowed to have firearms. Agents believe these drugs were destined for communities within Wyoming.

This case marks the first significant Fentanyl seizure since the WHP K-9 teams were trained and certified on fentanyl at the end of February.

WHP offers incentives to new applicants

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Highway Patrol is offering new applicants a hiring incentive. If employment is initiated with the WHP by June 30, troopers will get paid 80 extra hours at the hourly hire rate after the first month. This limited-time incentive is only available to new hires and rehires.

The Wyoming Highway Patrol is the agency for those applicants looking for a rewarding and challenging career. Patrol has many positions in various areas, including law enforcement, communications, administration and technology. Excellent benefits and pay offered for all jobs.

To take advantage of the incentive, apply today for any current position openings by visiting www.governmentjobs.com/careers/wyoming and searching the keywords Highway Patrol.

WHP train additional K-9s to detect Fentanyl

CHEYENNE – The process of training canines to detect Fentanyl has been a long, careful, and deliberate one. In July 2022, The Wyoming Highway Patrol trained and certified Wyoming’s first fentanyl-detection canine. The safety and success of this pioneering effort have led the Wyoming Highway Patrol to expand this program to the rest of our narcotic detection canine handler teams.

We began this training with the safety of our canine officers and their handlers first and foremost. This has been an extensive process, requiring time and resources from many companies to ensure the process is safe. The results have been overwhelmingly positive, with no incidents occurring that have endangered our canine partners or handlers throughout this training process.

In early March, nine additional Wyo-

Total number of employees: As of March 7, 2023

1,781

One month ago

1,787 One year ago

1,819 ming Highway Patrol canine teams across Wyoming were trained and certified to detect Fentanyl. This is a significant milestone for the Wyoming Highway Patrol as they add these teams to their force.

Five of these trained canines were purchased using federal grant funds through the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program.

The Wyoming Highway Patrol now has ten Fentanyl-trained canine teams across the state to help assist our statewide effort to take this dangerous drug off our streets and out of our communities.

District 1

Work to begin on I-80 near Pine Bluffs

CHEYENNE – Crews with Simon Contractors and the Wyoming Department of Transportation will begin work on Interstate 80 near Pine Bluffs on April 10.

The project spans the interstate from mileposts 393.4 to 400.5, both east and westbound lanes.

Work will begin with concrete slab replacements and then move to asphalt paving operations later in the summer.

Motorists on the I-80 should expect possible delays due to single lane shifts through construction zones and lowered speed limit. A 14-foot width restriction will be in place for interstate traffic during this project.

The public is encouraged to obey all posted signs, signals, flaggers and other traffic control and avoid distractions like cell phones while driving through work zones.

Structure, paving work underway on WYO 223/ Terry Ranch Road

CHEYENNE – Crews with Reiman Corp. and the Wyoming Department of Transportation began structure and paving work on Wyoming 223/Terry Ranch Road on March 20.

WYO 223/Terry Ranch Road runs between Interstate 25 and US Highway 85 south of Cheyenne.

Work began with a total bridge replacement over the Union Pacific Railroad at milepost 0.86. The new structure will be longer to accommodate future

UPRR tracks and widened to accommodate 12 foot lanes and 4 foot shoulders. WYO 223/Terry Ranch Road was closed to through traffic for the duration of the bridge construction. Motorists needing to get to Interstate 25 will need to use detours on US 85 to either College Drive or I-80. A map of project detours is shown below.

Other work includes milling, asphalt pavement overlay and a chip seal. Approaches will receive a mill, overlay and fog seal. The I-25 service road running from WYO 223/Terry Ranch Road south to the Colorado border will receive a chip seal. Work will also include delineation replacements and sign upgrades.

All accesses to residences and businesses will remain open throughout the project. During paving operations, flaggers will be present to maintain traffic flow through the residential and business areas.

The work is scheduled to be completed by late 2023.

Preparations underway for Curtis Street Bridge replacement in Laramie

LARAMIE – Crews with Reiman Corp. and the Wyoming Department of Transportation began preparations for the Curtis Street Bridge replacement along Interstate 80 in Laramie.

The Curtis Street Bridge spans I-80 at milepost 310 and will be demolished and replaced this summer. Demolition is scheduled to take place on May 16.

Preparations for the demolition are currently underway along I-80. Preparations include removal of the cable rail, building crossovers, dirt work and other miscellaneous work.

Motorists on the interstate should expect possible delays due to single lane shifts through construction zones and lowered speed limits. A 14-foot width restriction will be in place for interstate traffic during this project.

Power lines relocated over I-80 near Cheyenne

CHEYENNE – Travelers on Interstate 80 near Cheyenne experienced delays as Black Hills Energy utility company moved power lines over the Interstate on March 31.

The delays occurred at milepost 366.08, just east of Cheyenne near the Campstool Interchange. The temporary stoppages began the morning of March 24 and lasted no more than 10 minutes at a time.

Traffic control was in place, with Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers stopping traffic as power lines were moved across the interstate. Once the wire was across, traffic was allowed to flow freely. Drivers in the area encountered brief delays while the movement happened.

Multi-year bridge and paving work underway on I-80 in Cheyenne

CHEYENNE – Crews with Simon Contractors and the Wyoming Department of Transportation began a multiyear project along Interstate 80 on March 20.

The project started with a bridge rehabilitation at the Roundtop Interchange at milepost 357.66 in both east and west bound lanes, and ending at milepost 362.

This is a multi-year project split into two phases, starting with structure work and slab replacements with paving work to follow. The structure work and slab replacements are expected to be completed

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Briefs continued from page 5 by 2023. Paving operations for the project will resume in 2024, with an August 2024 completion date.

Motorists on the interstate should expect possible delays due to single lane shifts through construction zones and lowered speed limits. A 12-foot width restriction will be in place for interstate traffic during this project.

Concrete slab work near Burns/Carpenter I-80 interchange

CHEYENNE – Crews with S&S Builders and the Wyoming Department of Transportation began repair work on concrete slab March 6.

Work took place in the westbound lane of Interstate 80 at milepost 385.5 near the Burns/Carpenter interchange. Repair work is due to a crash that damaged the roadway last summer.

Heavy equipment producing loud noise is required to complete the work. Lane closures are expected.

Motorists encountered lane closures and reduced speed limits. The public were encouraged to obey all posted signs, signals, flaggers and other traffic control and avoid distractions like cell phones while driving through work zones.

This project had an expected completion date of two weeks.

Cheyenne pedestrian bridge reopens temporarily

CHEYENNE – The pedestrian bridge over Interstate 25 near McCormick Junior High School reopened in March. The bridge was temporarily closed on Feb. 6 due to concerns about the worsening condition of one of the concrete pillars.

Crews with Reiman Corp. and the Wyoming Department of Transportation worked quickly to design and install temporary shoring that ensured safe, unrestricted usage of the bridge for the remainder of the school year. Bishop Boulevard will also be fully reopened to traffic.

The pedestrian bridge will be closed again this summer for scheduled rehabilitation. More information about schedul- ing will be released once details have been finalized.

District 3 Work continues on Green River Signal project

ROCK SPRINGS – The Wyoming Department of Transportation, along with contract crews from Casper Electric, continued work along Uinta Drive as part of the signal and intersection upgrade project. On March 29, crews installed the overhanging signal arms at the intersection of Uinta Drive and Riverview Drive and Astle Ave.

This work required traffic to be moved to one side of Uinta and placed in a single lane in each direction near the intersection. The traffic signals were shut down and the intersection was controlled by flaggers. These closures took place in the evening hours.

Local traffic was advised to avoid the area, if possible, but did encounter brief delays.

Similar work will take place on the intersection of 2nd Street and Uinta Drive and will be handled in a similar fashion in the first weeks of April.

Total number of highway fatalities: As of March 27, 2023

31

One year ago 18 as part of the signal and intersection upgrade project in District 3.

WYDOT initiates project for WYO 22 corridor

JACKSON – The Wyoming Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration, in cooperation with the town of Jackson and Teton County, have initiated an environmental and design project on WYO 22. The WYO 22 Corridor Project extends from the Y-intersection with Broadway Avenue through Wilson.

This section of WYO 22 has the dubious distinction of being Wyoming’s busiest and most congested two-lane highway. In 2014, WYDOT worked with Teton County and the Town of Jackson to complete a Planning and Environmental Linkages study for WYO 22 that also included WYO 390. The study, which involved considerable public and stakeholder engagement, established a vision for the two highways and an ‘implementation plan’ that prioritized different improvements. The highest priority identified –the Snake River Bridge replacement – is scheduled for construction starting spring of 2023. The WYO 22 Corridor project is part of WYDOT’s larger plan to implement recommendations from the PEL study, as funding allows.

WYDOT originally had planned to start the environmental and design project in 2026 but decided to advance the project to start sooner. Bob Hammond, WYDOT’s Resident Engineer, said that daily traffic on WYO 22 has increased by 20 percent over the last 10 years. He added that traffic growth during peak travel hours were even higher during this time frame, with approximately 30 percent growth in the morning peak hour and 17 percent in the evening peak hour.

“I’m constantly receiving complaints about congestion on the highway, ranging from parents unable to pick up their kids from school to frustrated skiers on a powder day. One of my biggest concerns is our emergency providers not being able to quickly respond to calls because of congestion,” Hammond said.

Last September, after a competitive process, WYDOT awarded a contract to a consulting team to provide technical support for the project. Transportation needs and improvements to WYO 22 will be identified over the next year—working with an advisory committee comprised of stakeholders representing different interests. WYDOT will hold public meetings and provide various other ways for the public to offer their opinions.

Hammond commented that this project will examine multi-modal aspects, like pathway and transit improvements with the highway enhancements.

“WYDOT wants to improve mobility through the corridor,” Hammond said.

He added that this project will build off other studies and identify a corridor-wide approach to improving wildlife connections across the corridor.

“Wildlife mitigation is definitely a priority for us. This project provides a great opportunity for us to look broadly and implement the best measures, including fencing, underpasses, and/or overpasses, to help facilitate wildlife movements,” Hammond added.

This past fall, WYDOT leadership approached Teton County staff to discuss folding the County-led Tribal Trail project into the WYO 22 project. The County Commissioners held a workshop in December to discuss various scenarios for this merger and, on December 19th, sent a formal request to WYDOT to begin developing a cooperative agreement detailing this merger. On March 21st, the Commissioners voted to approve the agreement.

“Combining the two projects helps respond to comments from some members of the public that the Tribal Trail project should be analyzed along with the WYO 22 project,” Hammond said.

Over the next year, WYDOT will conduct various technical studies and public outreach—all geared toward honing in on the problems and solutions. This work will be used to support the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process that WYDOT hopes to initiate in 2024. Timing for construction remains uncertain, as WYDOT does not currently have construction funds programmed in its 6-year State Transportation Improvement Plan. Hammond noted that with NEPA work going into 2025, any future project would not be planned for construction until 2028 at the earliest.

Project information is available on the project website: www.WY22corridor.com.

Snow plow rear-ended on I-80 west of Rock Springs

ROCK SPRINGS – On the morning of March 5, the Wyoming Highway Patrol was notified of a snowplow collision. A WYDOT snowplow was removing snow from the roadway near milepost 125 on Interstate 80 when it was hit by a commercial vehicle. The commercial truck driver was trying to pass another car in the left lane and collided with the back of the snowplow, causing both vehicles to enter the median. The snowplow driver was transported to Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County with minor injuries from the crash.

The commercial truck driver was issued a citation for speeding too fast for the conditions and careless driving.

So far this winter, WYDOT has had 22 of its snowplows hit. A total of 18 plows were struck in the winter of 2021/2022, 26 in 2020/2021, and 23 in 2019/2020.

District 4

WYDOT begins work on Sheridan’s Main Street

SHERIDAN – The Wyoming Department of Transportation will begin work on the Downtown Sheridan Main Street project on Monday, April 3.

Oftedal Construction will close the intersection of Main Street and Dow Street to begin the resurfacing and utility upgrade project. This is the first phase of five that will be completed this construction season.

The traveling public who use the Dow Street intersection will be detoured to 1st Street, Mandel Street, Alger Street, Brooks Street or Gould Streets during this time. This intersection is expected to be closed until late May.

WYDOT will be hosting weekly public meetings beginning April 12 at 1:30 p.m. at the ERA/Carroll Realty second floor conference room located at 306 N. Main Street. The public is encouraged to attend if they are interested in the progress of the project.

In addition, information will be available via social media outlets and websites:

• Facebook and Instagram: Sheridan Main Street Project

• https://www.sheridanwy.gov/ government/public_works/ engineering/projects

• https://sheridanmedia.com/

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WYDOT reminds citizens to apply for forage permits

SHERIDAN – The Wyoming Department of Transportation reminds citizens wishing to harvest hay from the state rights-of-way must first obtain a forage permit from WYDOT.

The forage permit allows permit holders to mow and collect the forage free of charge through Oct. 1.

Adjacent landowners to WYDOT’s rights-of-way have until April 1 to file for a forage permit, after that permits will be issued on a first come, first served basis. All permit applications are scrutinized closely for right-of-way field conditions and requirements before a permit is issued. The permittee is required to obtain and show proof of liability insurance coverage.

Offering the public the opportunity to apply for a forage permit allows farmers and ranchers to obtain free livestock forage. It also creates a beneficial relationship that reduces costs to maintain the public roads and provides free forage for agricultural operations.

Removal of tall grasses and other plants from the rights-of-way is a safety issue as well as an appearance issue. Wildlife and other animals often move to highways when other food sources become scarce. This results in animals being struck by vehicles. Predators and scavengers then inhabit these areas and are involved in other vehicle/wildlife crashes.

Tall vegetation along highways also presents fire danger. Fires can be started by motorists discarding burning cigarettes or vehicles with faulty exhaust systems or brakes. Fires in proximity to highways can also jump across roadways and impact adjacent property.

Persons wishing to obtain a forage permit are urged to contact WYDOT maintenance offices in Sheridan, Buffalo, Gillette, Moorcroft, Wright, Hulett, Sundance and Newcastle.

Downtown Sheridan Main Street resurfacing, utility upgrade project

SHERIDAN – The long awaited resurfacing and utility upgrade project of Sheridan’s downtown Main Street is a month out.

In December 2022, the Wyoming Department of Transportation Commission awarded Oftedal Inc. a $17.8 million contract to resurface Sheridan’s Main Street from 1st Street to the Burkitt/ Coffeen Avenue intersection. This award also includes a utility upgrade component valued at $8.4 million which is funded by the City of Sheridan.

A public meeting was held March 7, to hear more about the details of the closure sequence and detours.

Phase I will run from Dow Street to Brundage Street. Phase II, which runs from Brundage Street to Coffeen Avenue will be completed in 2024. This schedule is dependent on weather, materials and unforeseen circumstances and is subject to change.

Main Street was originally paved in 1970. In 2003, Main Street from Dow Street to Brooks Street/Coffeen Avenue was upgraded. Those upgrades included diamond grinding the concrete surfacing, installation of new curb and gutter, and sidewalks, street-scape enhancements and decorative lighting as well as selective safety improvements such as bulb-out curb and gutter to allow pedestrians and drivers better visibility while also providing a decreased pedestrian crossing distance.

WYDOT opted to partner with the City of Sheridan and delay the planned resurfacing of the roadway at that time due to the City’s funding constraints and inability to combine underground utility upgrades.

This project will be completed over two years in two phases.

Lighting system upgrades underway at Diversion

Dam Rest Area

RIVERTON – A $292,000 project is underway to upgrade overhead lighting at Diversion Dam Rest Area, 38 miles west of Riverton on US Highway 26/287.

The project includes the replacement of 16 overhead lights and poles with newer and more cost-efficient LED luminaries and poles. New concrete bases and wiring will also be installed, along with new electric service points.

Motorists using the rest area should expect construction between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., five to six days a week.

“During this time, motorists will encounter workers and equipment in the rest area,” said Wyoming Department of Transportation project engineer Douglas Etsinger of Riverton.

“The rest area will remain open during the upgrades, and lighting will be maintained. A 2-day shutdown is expected when the old lights are phased out and the new ones are made operational,” Etsinger said.

The project has a completion date of Oct. 31, 2023.

Highway settlement repairs start on US 14/16/20 west of Cody

CODY – A 5.28-mile highway settlement repair project began the week of Feb. 26 west of Cody, adjacent to Buffalo Bill Reservoir.

The $5.9 million project is located on US Highway 14/16/20 between Trout Creek (milepost 36.41) and Buffalo Bill State Park Campground and Boat Launch (milepost 41.69).

Project work includes settlement repair at four locations, rotomilling of existing asphalt pavement surfacing, placing 2-inches of pavement overlay, chip sealing, minor slope flattening and other work.

Prime contractor is Mountain Construction Co., of Lovell.

All work, except reclamation and other work, is required to be complete by Aug. 31.

“The contractor started work this week on the settlement areas, and all work is dependent upon favorable weather,” said Wyoming Department of Transportation resident engineer Todd Frost of Cody.

Motorists should expect a maximum cumulative delay of up to 15 minutes during all work on the project, and there will be a 12-foot width restriction on the project.

With settlement repairs beginning at four locations, Frost said traffic is being narrowed to one lane and is controlled by temporary traffic signals or flaggers, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with reduced speeds of 20 mph.

“There will be a gravel surface during this work, and one settlement area will be worked on at a time,” Frost said. “Dirt work will be completed to a full width gravel surface, and normal two-way traffic will be returned to that area before starting work on the next settlement area.”

Motorists should expect a 2-minute delay during non-working hours at these four settlement locations.

“Milling of the remainder of the project and paving are tentatively scheduled toward the end of May,” Frost said. “Chip sealing is tentatively scheduled in midJune.”

Frost said motorists can expect a paved driving surface during shoulder flattening, paving and chip sealing. Traffic will be controlled with pilot vehicles and flaggers during pavement milling, shoulder flattening, paving and chip sealing.

Pipe work kicks off WYO 294 project near Ralston

RIVERTON – A $5.6 million pavement improvement project began on Wyoming Highway 294 (Badger Basin Road) near Ralston.

The project includes rotomilling of existing pavement surfacing, a 2-inch asphalt pavement overlay, chip sealing, minor slope flattening, guardrail replacement, and other work on 9.84 miles of WYO 294.

Project work starts at the intersection of US Highway 14A and WYO 294, south of Ralston, and extends 9.84 miles northwest to milepost 9.84 on WYO 294.

Prime contractor is Mountain Construction Co., of Lovell.

All work, with the exception of chip sealing, is required to be completed by Oct. 31. Chip sealing is scheduled in June 2024.

“The contractor started work on pipes Feb. 28, and all work is weather permitting,” said Wyoming Department of Transportation resident engineer Todd

Frost of Cody. “Motorists will see reduced construction speed limits of 45 mph and shoulder work at isolated locations throughout the project for pipe work.”

Frost said guardrail replacement near the WYO 294/US 14A intersection this spring will require a one-lane roadway, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, during work with a reduced speed limit of 20 mph, and there will be a 12-foot width restriction.

“Traffic will be controlled during working hours with flaggers, and after hours, with a temporary traffic signal,” Frost said. “Delays for this work will be about 10 minutes for the guardrail replacement area.”

Motorists should expect a paved surface and short delays during the guardrail and pipe work. Frost said pipe work and guardrail replacement are scheduled for completion by April 15.

Delays are expected on US 14A during guardrail work at the WYO 294/US 14A intersection.

Shoulder flattening, asphalt pavement milling and paving are tentatively scheduled to begin Aug. 1.

“During shoulder flattening, paving and chip sealing, motorists should expect delays of up to 20 minutes,” Frost said. “Traffic will be controlled with a pilot vehicle during this work.”