Customizing plows for more than 40 years

By Mark Horan
Behind the scenes of Wyoming’s well-maintained roads during harsh winter conditions is the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s Rigging Shop. This dedicated crew is responsible for building the snowplows that keep the state moving.
While plow building is not unique to Wyoming, it is not a common practice in other states. WYDOT has been building its own trucks since at least 1979.
The Rigging Crew builds plows exclusively for WYDOT, and on average, builds about 25 trucks per year. The exact number depends on the needs of the district equipment supervisors and budget constraints. A plow truck is expected to last for approximately 15 years or 750,000 miles, but some don’t make it that long if
they’re involved in a crash.
WYDOT builds various types of plows, including standard plow trucks, Kybato trucks (which allow for removable dump beds and the addition of a fifth-wheel plate), and stake-bed trucks with removable attenuators.
The plow-building process is complex and time consuming, taking approximately four to six weeks per truck, depending on the type. The process includes fabricating and welding various components, including the front hitch, rear hitch, hydraulic tanks, and pump mounts. Additional steps involve intricate electrical work for wiring and lights, and finally testing equipment to make sure everything is working in accordance with WYDOT, federal and manufacturer standards.
“It takes a lot of communication,” said
Rigging Shop Foreman Rob Roland. “Every truck is a little different because our four fabricators do everything a little differently, but they all take the time to ensure the trucks are built to a very high level of quality.”
The Rigging Shop consists of a team of eight, including fabricators, a machinist, an electrical person, and a shop lead. The shop is divided into sections, including a machine shop, a rigging area, and a paint booth. This allows for a streamlined building process. The crew consists of certified welders and fabricators, many of whom have received specialized training in other areas such as hydraulics and electrical. All of the crew members are required to be professionally certified in welding through WYDOT.
Machinist Darryl Cameron said he en-
Interchange is published for employees of the Wyoming Department of Transportation by its Public Affairs Office and a number of field correspondents.
Interchange invites submissions from all employees. Please send them to either your district correspondents or to Carlie Dakins, Interchange editor 5300 Bishop Blvd., Cheyenne, Wyoming, 82009-3340 or send an email to carlie.dakins@wyo.gov. Staff
Carlie Dakins
Contributors
Carlie Dakins Public Affairs
Mark Horan Public Affairs
Jordan Young Public Affairs
Andrea Staley District 1
Jeff Goetz District 2
Stephanie Harsha District 3
Laura Dalles District 4
Cody Beers District 5
Be sure to check out the online version of Interchange at http://issuu.com/ wydot.pao or click on the link found on the employee’s internal website home page.




joys keeping busy and having to think outside the box.
“Machine work is a lot like artwork, in terms of pushing yourself creatively,” he said.
WYDOT chooses to build its own plows to maintain quality and control costs. Building in-house allows for customization and ensures that the plows meet the specific needs of Wyoming’s roads. This practice also results in nearly $100,000 per truck in cost savings for material and labor. Shop Lead Lance Jenkins also pointed out that being able to put in large orders for materials helps save on shipping costs.
“We have the ability to make changes as needed, and we can control inventory using standard parts, which can be interchangeable,” said Jenkins.

“One of the biggest pros for us is that when trucks leave here, everything is the same, so we can swap parts out when we need to.”
Even with bulk savings, Jenkins noted that managing budgets in the midst of rising costs for parts is just one of the challenges the Rigging Shop faces. WYDOT’s plow trucks are used for summer highway maintenance as well, so there is often tight turnaround times between seasons. To overcome these challenges, the crew emphasizes communication, careful scheduling, and vendor management.
Although plow building is the Rigging Crew’s primary responsibility that keeps them busy year round, the shop occasionally has time for other projects. For example, when he’s not busy with building plow parts, Cameron works on a number of side projects for programs such as Geology and Photogrammetry.
“We’re able to help other crews with issues they have, and those little challenges are fun to overcome,” said Roland. “All of the people in the shop take great pride in their skill and try to build the best product for the customer.”

District Briefs
Headquarters Commission awards
$21.49 million in highway contracts in March
CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded $21.49 million in contracts for eight Wyoming Department of Transportation construction projects during its March 20 regular business meeting.
The commission awarded a $3.59 million bid to Washington-based Acme Concrete Paving Inc. for a concrete slab replacement project involving milling, crack sealing, concrete paving, traffic control, signage and fencing work on approximately 3.5 miles of Interstate 80 between Granger and Green River in Sweetwater County. The contract completion date is Oct. 31, 2025.
S & S Builders LLC, based out of Gillette, was awarded a $3.25 million bid for a bridge rehabilitation project involving structure work, traffic control, asphalt paving, seeding/erosion control, guardrail work, grading, milling and aggregate surfacing work at various locations within Big Horn, Fremont and Park Counties. The contract completion date is Nov. 30, 2025.
Based out of Cheyenne, Simon Contractors was awarded an $889,190 bid for a left turn lane project involving asphalt paving, aggregate surfacing, grading, traffic control, milling and signage work on US Highway 287 at mile marker 410.75 and on Wyoming Highway 130 at mile marker 2.779, both in Albany County. The contract completion date is Sept. 30, 2025.
The commission awarded an $807,466 bid to Cowley-based S & L Industrial for a rumble strip project involving rumble strips, asphalt paving and traffic control work at various locations statewide. The contract completion date is Oct. 31, 2025.
All of the above projects are funded primarily with federal dollars. The following projects awarded by the Transportation Commission this month are funded primarily with state dollars:
Cheyenne-based Reiman Corp. was awarded a $4.82 million bid for a bridge rehabilitation project involving structure
work, traffic control, asphalt paving and seeding/erosion control work at various locations within Lincoln, Sublette and Teton Counties. The contract completion date is June 30, 2025.
The commission also awarded Reiman Corp. a nearly $2.1 million bid for a slab repair project involving concrete paving, traffic control, aggregate surfacing, grading and sidewalk and curb and gutter work at various locations within Laramie County. The contract completion date is Oct. 31, 2025.
Avail Valley Construction-WY LLC, based out of Afton, was awarded a $2.81 million bid for a mill and overlay project involving asphalt paving, traffic control and milling work on approximately 7.3 miles of Wyoming Highway 51 between Gillette and Moorcroft in Campbell County. The contract completion date is Oct. 31, 2025.
Minnesota-based Bituminous Paving Inc. was awarded a chip seal project involving chip seal work and traffic control in various locations within Albany, Carbon and Laramie Counties, totaling approximately 54.1 miles. The contract completion date is Aug. 31, 2025.
Almost all WYDOT projects are awarded to the lowest bid.
District 1
Brief closure on Lewis Street to begin
LARAMIE – Crews with the Wyoming Department of Transportation and Knife River closed the west side of Lewis Street on March 10.
Crews replaced curb and gutter as well as Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades to the sidewalk. Work also began on Clark Street and Fremont Street but no closure was anticipated for those intersections. Knife River brought in two concrete crews to accelerate the work.
The closure at Lewis St. was anticipated to last a week.
Signal upgrades to begin on Monday in Laramie
LARAMIE – Crews with Casper Electric and the Wyoming Department of Transportation began work to upgrade signals at Ivinson Avenue and Garfield Street March 3.
Work included installation of new signal poles, new signal systems, boring, wiring, Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades at the intersection, storm sewer improvements and other miscellaneous work. Signals at both intersections were turned off throughout the replacement.
Access to Ivinson Ave. and Garfield St. was restricted from US Highway 287/ Third Street throughout the signal replacement.
The public was encouraged to obey all posted signs, signals, flaggers and other traffic control devices and avoid distractions like cell phones while driving through work zones.
District 3
Green River westbound tunnel cleanup
GREEN RIVER – The Wyoming Department of Transportation, along with contract crews from Clean Harbors Environmental Services, are scheduled to begin cleanup operations in the westbound Interstate 80 tunnel near Green River March 17. The work included concrete and debris removal and disposal, as well as extensive cleaning and disposal of soot, oil and miscellaneous contaminants in the tunnel.
The work was scheduled to take approximately a week, barring any complications. The work did not affect the head-tohead traffic in the eastbound tunnel.
Once the work was completed, WYDOT engineers were on hand to evaluate the damage and begin plans for repairs.
WYDOT plans to have repairs underway by this summer and to have traffic moving in the westbound tunnel once again before the winter season.
“We want to thank our contractors, S & L Industrial, DeBernardi Construction and Lewis & Lewis for their responsiveness and hard work involving this inci-
dent. We also want to recognize our highway patrol and maintenance personnel who have been working 24-7 to help keep the public safe as possible while we work towards repairing the westbound tunnel, all while battling the recent spring storms,” WYDOT District Construction Engineer Peter Stinchcomb said.
There is a legal load only restriction –which is an 8 foot, 6 inch width – on I-80 traffic through the head-to-head lanes in the eastbound tunnel. Oversized vehicles should contact the Wyoming Highway Patrol’s oversize loads permit office for detours.

Preparing the tunnel for damage assessment, a man power washes the inside of the westbound tunnel near Green River on I-80.
Nighttime work on the Snake River Bridge
JACKSON – The Wyoming Department of Transportation closed a lane over the Snake River Bridge on Wyoming Highway 22 again this Friday evening, beginning at 11 p.m. Traffic will be carried through the work areas at reduced speeds on a single lane under flagging operations, and will alternate on one lane while crews work in the other lane. The work will conclude by 4 a.m. Saturday morning. Crews will be continuing the bridge inspection from last Friday.
“We were unable to get all the surveying completed on the bridge deck last Friday,” WYDOT resident engineer Bob Hammond said.
Drivers should anticipate delays of up to 15 minutes through the project area Friday night from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. and should be cautious of roadside workers and flaggers.
Unpredictable weather and other variables may necessitate last-minute changes to the plans. WYDOT remains committed to updating the public with timely infor-
mation. For more information about the current work going on at the WYO 22/ WYO 390 intersection and Snake River Bridge, visit https://wy22wilsonsrb.com.
I-80 traffic detoured
through Green River
GREEN RIVER – The Wyoming Department of Transportation detoured eastbound Interstate 80 traffic through the town of Green River early morning on Feb. 28 to reset concrete barriers in an effort to adjust traffic flow on the crossover at mile marker 90.
“Some areas of the crossover have been damaged and crews needed the space to make the repairs, so we adjusted the traffic flow to avoid these areas,” said WYDOT Resident Engineer Clint Lockman.
The work took roughly three to five hours. Westbound traffic continued to use the eastbound tunnel while the work was underway.
There was a 10.5 foot width and 16 foot height restriction through the headto-head lanes in the eastbound tunnel. Oversized vehicles should contact the Wyoming Highway Patrol’s oversize loads permit office for detours. Info at https:// whp.wyo.gov/commercial-carrier/portsof-entry
Work continues at the tunnel site with operations involving clean-up in the westbound tunnel. Drivers were asked to drive cautiously and be aware of roadside workers and vehicles.
Westbound I-80 traffic was rerouted through the town of Green River to mill and pave the crossover at mile marker 90-91 on the west end of Green River on March 3.
“We really want these crossovers to last the duration of the head-to-head traffic, which could be months. We have been seeing some deterioration and we need to make sure they can carry the traffic,” WYDOT District Construction Engineer Peter Stinchcomb said.
Local contractors from DeBernardi Construction and Lewis & Lewis were working together to get the work done as quickly as possible. The milling and paving took roughly a week. Eastbound traffic continued to use the eastbound tunnel while the work was underway.
The traffic on I-80 was back to headto-head traffic in the eastbound tunnel on March 11, after the crossover paving was

District 4
Two-year project under way on I-90 in northern Sheridan County
SHERIDAN – The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded a $33.92 million bid to Sundance-based Croell Inc. for a reconstruction and realignment project northwest of Ranchester.
Approximately 8 miles of the westbound lane of I-90 are scheduled for a mill and overlay this season. In addition to the roadway resurfacing, work to be completed in year one of this two-year contract includes repairing five slides, removing two bridges and replacing them with box culverts, rehabilitating two existing bridges, and lining several culverts throughout that stretch of interstate.
Croell Inc. began preliminary work in November 2024, making bridge repairs at the Parkman exit and repairing one of five slides near mile marker 5 in March.
Year two work, scheduled for 2026, will include realigning approximately 4 miles of the eastbound lane from mile marker 3.9 to 8.0. This realignment is required to accommodate multiple slides that have been encroaching on the shoulder for several years. Two additional bridges will be removed and replaced with box culverts within the realignment road section.
In the fall of 2024, WYDOT utilized a soil nailing technique to reinforce and create a new slope and shoulder to prevent any further damage to the travel lane at one location.
Soil nailing is a remedial construction technique used to stabilize unstable natu-
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ral soil slopes. The process involves drilling holes into the slope face and inserting steel bars, which are then grouted in place. Mesh is attached to the ends of the bars to hold the slope face in position.
To complete the bridge removal and replacement and address the additional slides, the westbound lane of I-90 will be closed, and all traffic will be diverted to the eastbound lane, where traffic will run head-to-head.
Throughout the 2025 construction season, the contractor will mill and overlay the westbound lane.
The contract completion date is Nov. 30, 2026.
Citizens invited to apply for forage permits
SHERIDAN – The Wyoming Department of Transportation issued a reminder for 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.
Landowners adjacent to WYDOT’s rights-of-way had until April 1 to file for a forage permit, after that, permits were 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 public roads and provides free forage for agricultural operations.
Wildlife and other animals often move to highways when other food sources become scarce, resulting 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 present more than just danger for wildlife. Fires can be started by motorists discarding cigarettes or vehicles with faulty exhaust systems or brakes.

A round hay bale ready to be picked up from the right-of-way.
Northbound lane of the
I-90 Beulah interchange bridge closed for repairs
SUNDANCE – The Wyoming Department of Transportation awarded Cheyenne-based Reiman Corp. a $1.19 million damage repair contract to repair a bridge on Interstate 90 at exit 205/Beulah, Wyoming.
In 2023, a truck exceeding the minimum height restrictions struck the underside of the bridge, damaging several girders of the westbound lanes. The repairs necessitated detours and lane closures at this location.
Beginning the week of March 24, the contractor closed the northbound lane/ Sand Creek Road over the Beulah interchange bridge. Northbound traffic was shifted to the southbound lane. Closures included the northbound lane of the interchange bridge and the westbound lanes of I-90 between the on and off-ramps at exit 205.
Southbound traffic was detoured to exit 199 (Aladdin interchange) onto the interstate and then to exit 205.
I-90 eastbound interstate traffic was shifted to the travel lane, closing the passing lane to allow for construction under the bridge.
The I-90 on and off ramps at exit 205 remained open.
Snowplow hit on WYO 387 southwest of Wright
SHERIDAN – A driver of a small SUV traveling westbound on Wyoming Highway 387 southwest of Wright was cited for driving too fast conditions after hitting a WYDOT snowplow just before noon on
March 6. Two snowplow operators were performing normal snow removal operations in tandem when the incident occurred.
The front driver was plowing the eastbound left passing lane, with a second driver following behind in the eastbound travel lane.
The driver reported seeing the oncoming SUV crossing over the centerline and heading toward the snowplow. He veered to the westbound shoulder to avoid a T-bone collision. He then notified the second driver, warning him of the oncoming SUV. The driver reportedly clipped the SUV. The SUV grazed the snowplow’s passenger side door and exited the road into the ditch.
The two WYDOT operators and the driver of the SUV were uninjured.
Damage to the plow was minor and was able to continue plowing operations. The SUV received significant damage.
The crash occurred near milepost 146 on Wyoming Highway 387. Road conditions at the time reported slick with snowfall and reduced visibility.
This is the 11th plow strike this season for WYDOT and the second in District 4.
WYDOT reminds drivers to be mindful when driving in winter conditions. This includes checking road conditions before traveling, driving at a speed suitable for the conditions, and watching for snowplows.
Retaining wall repair on US 16 west of Buffalo
BUFFALO – The Wyoming Department of Transportation awarded Oftedal Construction an $809,268 contract to rebuild a block retaining wall damaged from to two runaway truck crashes.
Oftedal Construction began moving equipment the week of March 10 and had traffic control set by March 17.
The damage to the retaining wall was the result of two runaway truck events that occurred in August 2022 and October 2023. Both incidents involved trucks losing their breaks while traveling eastbound down US Highway 16 and leaving the roadway, breaking through the guardrail and off the steep shoulder damaging the upper portion of the retaining wall.
Work to be completed includes excavating 2 to 3 feet of the existing wall, removing and replacing the existing con-
crete blocks and replacing the guardrail.
Motorists encountered traffic control for approximately one-quarter of a mile between mile markers 85.96 and 86.20. The eastbound lane was closed and traffic shifted to the uphill lane and right shoulder.
There was a 10-foot width restriction in place with two-way, head-to-head traffic, a posted speed limit of 20 mph through the work zone and occasional flagging operations.
Work is expected to be complete by late May 2025.

Construction to repair the US 16 retaining wall.
District 5
Turn lane construction north of Cody at Road 2AB/US 14A intersection
CODY – Construction of a right turn lane at Park County Road 2AB’s intersection with US Highway 14A began March 24 north of Cody.
When complete, the $821,000 safety project will benefit southbound traffic on US 14A.
Prime contractor is Mountain Construction Co., of Lovell, and contract completion date is June 30, 2025.
“This work requires a 45 mph speed limit without delay during non-working hours, and between commuting periods (7 to 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 to 6 p.m.),” said Wyoming Department of Transportation Resident Engineer Todd Frost of Cody. “Traffic control, including flaggers, will be used on Road 2AB during working hours (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.).”
Southbound traffic was diverted into the existing center turning lane 24 hours a
day beginning on March 31, and the speed limit was reduced to 45 mph through the work zone.
Motorists should expect flaggers and traffic delays of up to 10 minutes during working hours.
“Motorists should watch for slowing traffic and turning movements in the work zone,” Frost said.
A 12-foot width restriction was in effect beginning March 31.
“The contractor must be notified ahead of time for movement of oversized farm equipment so this can be coordinated with the traffic control subcontractor,” Frost said.
Fencing and irrigation work are scheduled to begin next week.
“Milling of the project and highway shoulder work is scheduled to be complete in April, with paving tentatively scheduled in late April or early May,” Frost said. “A paved driving surface will remain in place during the project.”
All work is tentatively scheduled, weather permitting, to be completed by Memorial Day weekend.
Pipe collapse on West River Road between Worland and US 16/20
WORLAND – The north end of West River Road (Wyoming Highway 433) is closed until further notice to all traffic in excess of 10,000 pounds due to a collapsed pipe at milepost 16.77.
The collapse is south of West River Road’s intersection with US Highway 16/20, north of Worland. Additionally, except for local traffic, the road closure is between mileposts 12.7 and 18.5. All traffic exceeding 10,000 pounds are required to use US 16/20 between Worland and Basin, through Manderson, until further notice.

A pipe collapse near Worland closes a portion of WYO 433
February impaired driving enforcement operation yields 3 DUI arrests, 40 speeding
citations
RIVERTON – A Fremont County multi-agency impaired driving enforcement operation during Super Bowl® weekend resulted in 186 traffic stops, three arrests of impaired drivers, and 40 speeding citations.
The Fremont County DUI Task Force prioritizes impaired driving, but law enforcement issued 29 citations for other offenses and made two arrests for controlled substances during the three-day operation in February.
The task force issued 129 warnings during the three-day operation and issued seven seat belt citations. No impaired driving fatalities were reported during the operation.
The Fremont County DUI Task Force arrested 33 impaired drivers and made 1,978 traffic stops during eight enforcement operations in 2024.
From the Director
Time for Town Hall meetings
WYDOT,
Spring is in the air, which means it’s time for Town Hall meetings. I’m personally inviting all employees to attend one of a slate of Town Hall meetings scheduled this April. I enjoy these opportunities to meet with you face-to-face to have open discussions about the current state of the agency and my outlook on our future together. Together, we can continue to make WYDOT more impactful and a better place to work for everyone.

Some of the topics I plan to cover include:
• Results of the recent Legislative session
• Results of the Transportation Commission retreat
• Highs and lows of Employee Safety’s annual statistics
• Results of the Customer Satisfaction Survey
• Update on Strategic Plan progress
• Recruiting efforts, including recent work with local consultant
• WTDEA Employee Relief Fund
We will also leave limited time for questions beyond the planned topics. Employees can ask questions during the meeting or questions can be submitted ahead of time to dot-publicaffairs@ wyo.gov.
For this round of Town Halls, we will only have the option of attending a virtual meeting during the two events in Cheyenne. If you are not able to attend your meeting in person, please plan to join one of these two meetings virtually. The Zoom link can be obtained by contacting the Public Affairs Office. Public Affairs will also make a recording available after the meeting schedule has concluded.
The full Town Hall schedule is:
• Monday, April 21; 1:30-3:30 p.m.
District 1 – Albany County Fairgrounds, Laramie
• Tuesday, April 22; 9:30-11:30 a.m.; and 1-3 p.m.
Headquarters** – Surbrugg/Prentice Auditorium at Laramie County Community College, Cheyenne
**These two meetings are the only meetings that will be available virtually.
• Wednesday, April 23 – 1-3 p.m.
District 2 – Durham Auditorium in Aley Hall, Casper College, Casper
• Thursday, April 24 – 9-11 a.m.
District 3 – Broadway Theater, Rock Springs
• Thursday, April 24 – 2-4 p.m.
District 5 – Robert A. Peck Art Center, Central Wyoming College, Riverton

• Monday, April 28 – 10 a.m.-Noon
District 4 – Presentation Hall, Gillette College, Gillette
Thank you in advance for your engaged participation and constructive feedback
– Darin
**Headquarters - Apr 22, 2025
9:30 a.m. meeting 1:00 p.m. meeting
Aeronautics Patrol
Construction Staff Bridge
Maintenance Staff Contracts & Estimates
Facilities Staff Geology
Equipment Staff Highway Development
Highway Safety Materials
Traffic Planning
Internal Review Right of Way
Public Affairs Driver Services
Strategic Improvement Human Resources
Management Services Motor Vehicle Services
Civil Rights Office Services
Emergency Comms Training Services
GIS/ITS
Employee Safety
Information Technology Compliance/Investigation
Grants & Contracts Financial Services
Budget Procurement Services
Fuel Tax Administration
Program Managers: There is some flexibility in scheduling if you need to split staff between meetings. Please create your own calendar invites for these meetings and send them to your staff.

Meet MAX
Major upgrades coming to Driver Services this summer
By Jordan Young
The Wyoming Department of Transportation’s Driver Services program is receiving a very long-awaited upgrade this year, which will make operations more efficient and better serve Wyoming’s residents and drivers.
The Revenue Information System software is used by Driver Services to complete almost any task, including issuing driver licenses, compiling driver records, and managing driving privileges after legal actions from commercial driving penalties or crimes like driving impaired. The software also communicates with all other states and keeps driver personal information confidential. Additionally, WYDOT programs like Motor Vehicle Services, Compliance and Investigation and the Wyoming Highway Patrol use this system. Through RIS, WYDOT serves on average more than 1,000 people per day; Driver Services is one of the most public-facing programs at WYDOT.
Only problem? The software is 40 years old – about as old as the internet itself.
The current software is no longer serviceable and is so outdated that it’s causing issues and downtime, which can be a major impact to the public.
The Wyoming Legislature passed House Bill 254 in 2021 authorizing WYDOT to pursue a new software system. In August 2023, the project team selected Kyndryl, an IT service management company, and AstreaX, who both recently implemented a similar system in Arizona.
The new system is called MAX, which will go live later this summer. MAX not only streamlines the operations of Driver
Services employees, but will also provide major quality improvements to the public. Customers at Driver Services will see even shorter wait times at their local offices, if they even have to go into an office at all; many offerings will now be provided through a self-service portal called oneWYO.

More details about the offerings of MAX and oneWYO will be unveiled in future issues of Interchange.
“The Driver Services team is very excited for the new system and has embraced the upcoming positive changes in the way we will do business with our customers in the future,” said Misty Zimmerman, Driver Services program manager.
In addition to the four full-time MAX Modernization team members, a group of 20-plus Driver Services team members volunteered to be MAX Advocates to contribute to the success of the modernization project. Watch for a special feature on the MAX Advocates in future issues of Interchange, too!

The keynote speaker at the 2025 Engineering and Operations Conference was Mandy Fabel, executive director of Leadership Wyoming. Her speech, Take What the Road
Biennial Engineering and Operations Conference sees high attendance
By Jordan Young and Mark Horan
Thanks to some incredibly mild March weather, the biennial WYDOT Engineering and Operations supervisors conference saw record-breaking attendance this year, with more than 500 participants. Many of the general sessions and workshops were standing-room only.
Employees in a variety of programs from around the state met together to discuss innovations, learn from each other, and make

Beyond the workshops and learning opportunities, the biennial Engineering and Operations Conference in Cheyenne provided networking opportunities with other WYDOT programs around the state, as well as local vendors.
new partnerships and connections.
There were more than 60 workshops available over the threeday program, which spanned March 11-13 at Little America in Cheyenne. Breakout session topics included industry workshops with WYDOT programs and vendors, as well as lessons in state employee benefits and processes from agencies like Wyoming Retirement System and WYDOT payroll.
The first night of the conference featured keynote speaker Mandy Fabel, executive director of Leadership Wyoming, a formal leadership development program. She and her husband also manage “Granola and Gasoline”, which according to their Facebook page is “the only outdoor lifestyle brand dedicated to crushing stereotypes, combining cultures, and connecting people by creating good times in the great Wyoming outdoors.”
Her speech, “Take What the Road Gives You,” discussed mental, physical and emotional resilience. She incorporated many stories from her life as an outdoor enthusiast to convey how effective leadership involves perseverance and stepping outside your comfort zone. She used the analogy of being in a bike race to illustrate the idea that finding joy and success in work involves making the most of opportunities in front of you, even in the face of challenging obstacles. .
“If you want to do your best performance, you can’t coast ever,” she said in her speech. “You can’t coast downhill and you can’t take

A group attends a breakout session on LaRue Snow Blowers, a type of rotary plow used by many WYDOT crews, hosted by Jesse McKinley with Kois Brothers Equipment. The session was one of 60 available to attendees during the 2025 Engineering and Operations Conference at Little America in Cheyenne.
uphills lightly. …You have to take what the road gives you every step of the way.”
WYDOT Director Darin Westby also spoke to the group about how building relationships across the agency can lead to better problem solving.
“You don’t want to start trying to be a leader in a crisis – you want to build a relationship so when there is a crisis, it’s an easy phone call,” Westby said. “This conference is a great time to build those relationships.”
Westby also expressed gratitude to the Wyoming Legislature for recognizing the importance of WYDOT’s work and providing the agency with some much-needed funding.
“This will enable us to not only maintain our existing roads and bridges, but also invest in capacity expansions and safety enhancements that will benefit all Wyoming residents and visitors,” Westby said, adding that he’s hopeful for further financial support so that WYDOT can move beyond preservation mode into some “exciting new projects.”
In addition to the variety of available workshops and trainings, there were also networking opportunities abound. The heavy attendance made for plenty of opportunities to mingle in the hallways between sessions, and there were other social activities planned for the evenings, including a trivia night. Vendors were also available at different booths in the hallways with information and “swag” items for attendees.
The Engineering and Operations Conference is a biennial event put on by Headquarters Construction and Maintenance Staff. In the off years, WYDOT organizes a cooperation meeting with the Association of General Contractors, as well as a Maintenance Crew Leader conference.
Maintenance Technician Laura Schei, who was heavily involved in the planning of this year’s conference, was pleased with this year’s event.
“The Engineering and Operations conference was a huge success thanks to a strong collaborative effort between the Construction and Maintenance Staff offices,” Schei said.
She added she felt the conference featured “a diverse range of engaging breakout topics and a compelling general session.”
Schei was also quick to thank the Public Affairs Office, Printing Services, program presenters, and vendors for the additional support.
Total number of employees: As of Feb. 26, 2025 1,866 One month ago 1,853 One year ago 1,846
12 One year ago 8 WHP
Total number of highway fatalities: As of March 1, 2025
2025 Legislative Session recap
By Jordan Young
The State’s 68th Legislature wrapped up its work March 6 after about seven weeks of activity. WYDOT’s Management Services program was hard at work through the session updating Executive staff on bill statuses, watching sessions on YouTube, and helping to coordinate schedules for staff testimony. WYDOT and Wyoming Highway Patrol staff from a variety of programs and divisions spent time attending meetings, compiling data and testifying before committees and House and Senate floors.
By far the most impactful piece of legislation that passed was House Enrolled Act No. 44, which redistributes about $64 million of vehicle sales and use tax to WYDOT beginning July 1 to be used for “the operation, maintenance, construction and reconstruction of state highways.” It’s worth noting $15 million of that amount is appropriated to repairing the Interstate 80 Green River Tunnels after a crash closed the westbound tunnel in February. However, the funding is great news after years of underfunded needs.
Executive staff will work with the Transportation Commission to determine how these additional funds are allocated.
WYDOT Director Darin Westby recently spoke briefly about

the session while he was speaking to employees at the Engineering and Operations Conference in Cheyenne. He said part of the agency’s success with the Legislature this year is owed to the many employees that spend their workdays “in a fish bowl.”
“Everything you do is being witnessed by others, especially those of you that are on the front lines maintaining the roads,” said Westby at the conference. “What you guys did by doing your jobs, and what we did by … pushing the brand and really trying to hammer home the importance of our industry and the importance of this agency – we did not hear one person talk bad about WYDOT on the [Legislature] floor, or for that matter, in the halls or in a committee room. … They were just really lauding our praises for everything that we’ve done over the last year, so kudos to you.”
Beyond the additional funding, 34 of the bills WYDOT was tracking made it through the House and Senate to become Enrolled Acts this year, including:
• Driver License and Identification Card changes:
o HEA No. 6 – amends expiration and renewal for persons under 21-years-old, clarifies timeline for case hearings, amends requirements for replacement license and adds a fee for replacement license.
o HEA No. 14 – repeals requirements for physically surrendering the license card, repeals temporary licenses, requires officers to submit statements, and clarifies the timeline for case hearings.
o HEA No. 33 – driver’s licenses issued to unauthorized/illegal aliens by other jurisdictions are invalid in Wyoming except for in specific circumstances.
o Senate Enrolled Act No. 32 – implements a designation of non-citizen status on driver’s license or ID card.
• HEA No. 1: Vehicle Accident Reporting – removes $1,000 damage threshold requiring a crash report for property damage crashes. This helps reduce law enforcement time spent on property-damage-only crashes, especially “fender benders” where vehicles can be driven away from the scene.
• SEA No. 5: Electric lien and title system – creates an electronic lien and title system, which WYDOT is tasked with administering.
• SEA No. 17: Large project funding – provides $6.21 million for WYDOT’s US Highway 189 wildlife crossing project near Kemmerer.
• SEA No. 40 – establishes the process to transfer a vehicle title upon the death of the owner to a beneficiary. WYDOT will promulgate rules.
• SEA No. 81 – allows local governments to lower speed limits without a speed study in specific instances.
• Two new specialty license plates:
o HEA No. 30: Search and Rescue plate – a specialty plate to benefit search and rescue efforts around the state. Plate applications and search and rescue donations are processed by the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security. The plate will be retired if at least 1,000 aren’t issued by 2032.
o SEA No. 47: Rodeo plate – a specialty plate to recognize rodeo as the official sport of Wyoming, and plate proceeds benefit rodeo programs at the University of Wyoming and community colleges around the state. Unless 500 plates are sold by 2031, the plate will be eliminated from production.
You can see a full list of the bills that the Governor has acted on here: https://governor.wyo.gov/bills
The Governor vetoed SEA No. 82, the Second Amendment Protection Act, which WYDOT had been tracking closely. The Wyoming Highway Patrol had concerns about this bill as it was written, as it would greatly restrict the department’s ability to potentially hire former federal law enforcement employees.
For more details about each bill, or to read the bill language in full, visit: www.wyoleg.gov
To see a full list of bills Management Services tracked this year, visit the Executive Staff page on the intranet: https://employees. dot.state.wy.us/home/executive_staff/legislative-update.html
Preparations for the Interim Session are already underway, and WYDOT will be busy with different topics, including an additional look into the agency’s funding shortfall.
Working together to accomplish the mission
Emergency Comms thanks SMEs for support
By Mark Horan
Entrepreneur Steve Jobs once said, “Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people.”
The Emergency Communications Program takes this philosophy to heart. Although the group is well rounded, they have their limitations, according to Program Manager Mark Kelly.
“We’re good at what we do, but we can’t do it alone,” said Kelly. “It often becomes necessary for our team to reach out to Subject Matter Experts in other programs for assistance in accomplishing the mission.”
Kelly went on to explain that an SME in another program can streamline requests and make larger projects more efficient.
“Either we don’t have the necessary equipment or our personnel aren’t certified to operate it,” he added. “There is an art to operating heavy equipment that comes from years of experience, which in most cases we don’t have.”
Seeking assistance from other Programs can be a valuable asset. Collaboration often leads to increased efficiency in maximizing funding, delivering results, and meeting project deadlines.
Additionally, it can create valuable training opportunities for all participants. Chief Technology Officer Nate Smolinski echoed Kelly’s sentiment.
“Like a lot of programs within WYDOT, Emergency Comms doesn’t exist in a silo,” said Smolinski. “They receive a lot of support from other experts throughout the agency. That spirit of teamwork and willingness to lend a hand doesn’t go unnoticed.”
Over the years, numerous people and programs throughout the agency have provided invaluable assistance to the Emergency Communications program, for which Kelly and Smolinski are appreciative.
Examples of assistance provided by WYDOT district staff include:
• Fencing projects and road repair around radio tower sites.
• Bucket truck operations for projects such as antenna wiring or radio tower upgrades.
• Assistance from Wyoming Highway Patrol in coordinating radio installs, user training and securing equipment spares.
• Electrical engineering to provide power to new sites.
• Building snowcat shed approach ramps.
• Assistance with fiber cable installation.
• Assisting with winter access to radio sites.
• Covering radio shop duties for staff on light duty or medical leave.
• Heavy equipment operations for projects such as setting up propane tanks and removal of old buildings.
In addition to district staff, Emergency Comms receives assistance on a regular basis from many programs within WYDOT Headquarters, such as:
• Right of Way.
• Environmental Services.
• Procurement

• Intelligent Transportation Systems.
• Geographic Information Systems.
• The Transportation Management Center.
• Aeronautics (for drone pilot training).
• Contracts.
• Budget Office.
• WYDOT IT.
• Utilities.
• Employee Safety.
Smolinski acknowledged that it can be difficult to capture every individual and program that has helped out, adding there could be groups other than the aforementioned that have lent a hand over the years.
“Having worked in the field myself, I am fully aware of the day to day activities and collaboration that just feel standard and normal to those working together,” Smolinski said. “But staff back at Headquarters don’t take those things for granted. So to everyone who has supported the Emergency Comms program over the years, please know of my sincere gratitude. We couldn’t do it without you.”
Kelly agreed, noting the cooperative effort between groups “is tremendous.”
“Our program would not be nearly as effective or efficient without the help we get from others,” Kelly said. “We’re grateful to have formed so many strong partnerships throughout the agency.”
2024 Customer Satisfaction Survey results are in!
WYDOT receives 70 percent satisfaction rating
By Jordan Young
Every other year, The Wyoming Department of Transportation works with the University of Wyoming’s Survey and Analysis Center to conduct the agency’s Customer Satisfaction Survey.
The survey aims to gather valuable feedback from the individuals WYDOT serves, helping the agency to learn what is working and identify areas for improvement so the agency can continue enhancing its mission and services to the people of Wyoming.
This marked the 12th iteration of the survey, with a total of 997 responses collected during the survey period, which spanned Nov. 6 to Dec. 17, 2024.
Again this year the survey offered a dual-mode option, where respondents could answer the questions online or over the phone. Almost 60 percent of respondents opted to complete the online survey.
On the positive side, the results show that customers have noticed improvements in road conditions over the past two years and are generally pleased with services provided by the state’s airport facilities and ports of entry.

While the survey results indicate some areas of stagnation or decline, WYDOT views this as a crucial opportunity to reassess and refine funding, operations, processes, and resource allocation. This feedback is a valuable tool for identifying where improvements are most needed to better serve the traveling public.
Ensuring the satisfaction and safety of our customers remains at the core of WYDOT’s mission. Director Darin Westby emphasized this point to the Wyoming Transportation Commission at its April meeting.
“We view this survey as a key opportunity to identify the areas where we must focus our efforts to improve as an agency,” he said.
To read the full Customer Satisfaction Survey, visit WYDOT’s website at:
https://www.dot.state.wy.us/home/administration/strategic_ performance/survey_results.html





Wellness
How to reduce overwhelm and prevent burnout
By Holly A. Brown, PhD, Account Manager and Higher Education Manager, AllOne Health
Burnout has become an epidemic in the modern workplace, leaving employees exhausted, unmotivated, and struggling to cope. The good news? There are ways to manage and prevent burnout. To begin, it helps to take a closer look at this condition and its causes.
What Is burnout?
Burnout is more than just feeling tired or stressed. It’s a prolonged response to chronic workplace stress and is characterized by:
• Emotional and physical exhaustion.
• Feeling detached from work and others.

• Feeling ineffective, like nothing you do can make a difference. Recognizing the signs
Burnout can feel similar to depression and can make even the simplest tasks overwhelming. Left unaddressed, it can have serious consequences on your health, well-being, job performance, relationships, and more. Be aware of the following:
• Physical symptoms: chronic fatigue, sleep disturbances, headaches, low immunity.
• Emotional symptoms: anxiety, depression, irritability, lack of motivation.
• Behavioral symptoms: withdrawal from responsibilities, isolation, using unhealthy coping mechanisms.
Recognizing the causes
While workplace challenges play a major role in causing burnout, lifestyle traits, and personality traits also play a role. Here’s a closer look:
1. Work-related challenges that contribute to burnout include:
• Unrealistic deadlines and overwhelming schedules.
• Lack of clear job expectations or proper supervision.
• Feeling undervalued or unrecognized for your contributions.
• Difficulty unplugging from work, especially in remote roles.
2. Lifestyle challenges that contribute to burnout include:
• Lack of work-life balance, which increases stress and exhaustion.
• Poor sleep habits, which make it harder to cope with daily challenges.
• Unhealthy diet and inadequate exercise, which impact energy levels, mental health, and stress resilience.
• Minimal social support can intensify feelings of isolation and stress.
• Overcommitment can leave you feeling drained and overwhelmed.
3. Personality traits that can contribute to burnout include:
• Perfectionism and feeling like nothing is ever “good enough.”
• People-pleasing tendencies and trying to meet everyone else’s needs at the expense of your own.
• High-achieving or Type A personality, which interferes with getting appropriate rest.
• An inability to delegate.
• Fear of failure or constant worry makes it hard to unwind. When to reach out for help
If every day feels like a bad day, and you no longer find joy in work or personal activities, it may be time to take action. Burnout has a way of escalating and interfering with your health, relationships, and ability to function in everyday life.
TechTalk
A brief lesson on “big data”
By Enterprise Technology Services
How does Wyoming use “big data”? Well, we don’t, not in its truest sense, at least. Yes, Wyoming has a lot of data, and our data storage requirements may be “big,” but the industry uses the term “big data” to mean something different.
Big data involves massive amounts of data (exabytes each day) being created at intense rates and changing rapidly. It comes from a variety of sources, in diverse forms, mostly unstructured, and moves at a “velocity.” Think of it as all social media platform posts surrounded by Amazon sales rating comments, wrapped in stock market bids and asks, compounded by IoT sensor relays …, and data, all flying by at an extreme speed over your head continuously. Users of big data then “scrape” off what looks interesting to them and pump it into a cluster of servers with machine learning and predictive analytical models to see if they can establish recog-
nizable patterns.
For example, perhaps we’ve just concluded that X number of taco dinners people post on social media within one hour of posting 1-star reviews of their Amazon product is related to a half-point increase in the London Metal Exchange’s price on aluminum, which seemingly creates a surge in soda sales in an IoT-connected pop machine.
Sounds kinda futuristic, doesn’t it? Not to mention, not very useful to you and me. However, these are the types of things (with a lot of latitude) to which large companies are looking to capitalize. It is a scenario that doesn’t happen in the Wyoming state government.
So when you hear people – even some of our legislators – talking about “big data,” we encourage you to listen with a discerning ear.
Shadow IT: what is it, what are the risks, and how to avoid it
It creeps into organizations slowly, often unnoticed at first. It starts with an employee who needs to get something done quickly and can’t wait for the Information Technology Department’s ‘lengthy’ approval process. They found a cloud-based tool online that fit the bill perfectly.
With just a credit card, they’re up and running in minutes, sharing files and collaborating with colleagues. Word spreads, and soon, other teams are using the same tool, drawn to its ease of use and its ability to solve pressing needs. However, everyone is unaware of any security risks that may exist with the solution.
This is called Shadow IT. This happens when employees use any IT hardware, software, or services without the knowledge or approval of Enterprise IT. These actions can potentially create security risks and compliance issues for businesses and the Enterprise environment.
The risks of shadow IT
The primary risks of shadow IT include increased vulnerability to data breaches, potential compliance violations from unauthorized software, data loss from unapproved platforms, lack of visibility for IT teams, and inefficiencies from poorly integrated systems.
When employees circumvent IT policies and venture outside of authorized solutions to share and disseminate company-owned data (e.g. using cloud storage solutions like DropBox), it inadvertently puts unsubstantiated risk on both the employee and the employer.
These types of solutions typically lack the robust access controls, encryption, and other safeguards needed to properly protect confidential business information. Sensitive financial data, customer records, product plans, and more could easily fall into the wrong hands if stored on an unsecured cloud platform.
Similarly, storing sensitive company data on unapproved plat-

forms is a risky practice that can lead to accidental leaks or exposure to confidential information. When employees use personal cloud storage, USB drives, or unsecured apps to save or share files, it opens up vulnerabilities that threat actors could potentially exploit to gain unauthorized access.
Even if a data breach isn’t malicious, inadvertent sharing of files containing customer personally identifiable information, financial records, product plans, or other proprietary data with the wrong parties can cause major incidents.
Unapproved platforms typically lack the robust access controls, encryption, monitoring, and other enterprise-grade security measures that IT teams use to protect sensitive information. Using them bypasses critical safeguards and makes it much more like-

ly that private data will end up in the wrong hands, resulting in compliance violations, reputational damage, financial losses, and eroded customer trust.
Shadow IT can pose significant compliance challenges for organizations. When employees or departments implement their own technology solutions outside of officially sanctioned IT systems, it becomes difficult for the organization to maintain a complete inventory of where data is being stored and accessed.
This lack of visibility and control over usage can lead to major gaps in regulatory compliance efforts. If auditors or regulators request information on how data is being handled, the organization may be unable to provide a full accounting, since they don’t know of all the places data resides within shadow systems.
When employees start using unapproved apps and services to get their work done, it can spell big trouble for data security. These shadow IT platforms often fly under the radar of official IT and security policies.
While they may help people collaborate and be productive, they also open up huge risks of sensitive company and customer data leaking out or falling into the wrong hands. This is a recipe for accidental breaches, compliance violations, and data loss nightmares.
The apps people adopt on their own usually lack the strict access controls, encryption, backup procedures, and other safeguards that IT would normally put in place.
IT teams often struggle with shadow IT. This can create significant challenges when managing risks across the organization. When employees get and use their own tech solutions, it leads to a complex, fragmented IT environment that is difficult for IT to maintain full visibility into.
From unsanctioned cloud storage apps to messaging platforms to hardware connected to the network, shadow IT means there may be countless systems operating under the radar, storing corporate data and connecting to company infrastructure. This prevents any
IT Team from ‘seeing’ a complete picture of an organization’s IT footprint, and they cannot effectively assess vulnerabilities, monitor for threats, ensure proper data handling practices are followed, and keep systems patched and up-to-date.
Using technology deployed without the knowledge or approval of the IT department can lead to significant challenges with system integration and overall productivity. When employees implement their own apps, software, or cloud services to get work done, these tools often aren’t compatible with a company’s core systems and infrastructure.
This creates information silos and duplicate processes, as data gets spread across disparate platforms that do not seamlessly connect or share information. Time is wasted manually transferring data, dealing with formatting issues, or even re-doing work.
Without centralized management and governance, shadow IT creates an inefficient patchwork of isolated solutions that don’t play well together. While the original intent may be to solve a business need quickly, the downstream impact hinders productivity as people struggle with workarounds, mistakes, and extra effort to cope with poorly integrated systems.
Shadow IT may provide short-term gains in speed and agility, but the long-term risks and costs often outweigh any benefits. When business units circumvent IT and implement their solutions, it leads to a fragmented technology landscape that becomes increasingly difficult and expensive to manage over time. By bringing shadow IT into the light, organizations can optimize their technology investments and enable the business while keeping risks in check.
District News
Headquarters
Welcome
Courtney Atwal, Planning-System Planning; Connor Desmond, GIS/ ITS; Scott Garvey, Planning-Statistics/Inventory; Yulee Gauthier, Fuel Tax-Administration; Gavin Jacoby, Patrol-Records; Jason Mitchum, Highway Development-Project Development; Jana Molland, Fuel Tax-Uniformity; Kaitamaria Pounds, Highway Safety; James Price, Geology; Kenneth Rairigh, Highway Development-Project Development; Austin Riley, Planning-Statistics/Inventory; and A.J. Trabing, Right of Way-Negotiations.
Promotions and Transfers
Sarah Abbott, Patrol-Dispatch; Steven Berg, Materials-Bituminous; Heather Dungan, Motor Vehicle Services-Plate Production; Holly Garrison, Highway Development-Project Development; Matthew Groth, Highway Development-Project Development-Utilities; Erin King, Driver Services-CDL; Matthew Mata, Materials-Bituminous; Guy Olson, Geology; Alexandria Simpson, Highway Safety;



and Robert Wenger, Traffic.
Service Awards
Marcus Anderson, Maintenance Staff-Administration – 25 years; Greg Smith, Facilities Management-Security – 20 years; William Ernst, GIS/ITS – 15 years; Robert Rodriguez, Strategic Performance Improvement – 15 years; Kari Fictum, Highway Safety-Data Analysts – 10 years; Roger Grant, Facilities Management-Building Maintenance – 10 years; Curtis Robinson, Port of Entry-Cheyenne I-25 – 10 years;
Mariah Abeyta, Procurement Services-Buying – 5 years;
George Andrikopoulos, Bridge-Engineering Design – 5 years;











Caleb Decroo, Materials-Bituminous – 5 years; Neil Gardiner, Emergency Communications-Administration – 5 years; Lloyd Nickles, Emergency Communications-Administration – 5 years; and Carissa Pecenka, Highway Development-Engineering Services – 5 years.
District 1
Welcome
Mason Barker, Traffic-Signing; Steven Burdette, Rawlins Construction; Travis Mathews, Cheyenne Mechanics; Michael Miller, Cheyenne Maintenance; and Brennan Nofzinger, Cheyenne Mechanics.
Promotions and Transfers
Brandon Cook, Cheyenne Construction; and Mark Kittelson, Patrol-Cheyenne.
Retirements

Jesse Jenkins, highway maintenance technician with District 1 in Cheyenne, retired in February with 12 years of service.
District 2
Welcome
Gary Burgener Jr., Douglas Maintenance; Marvin Crebs, Midwest Maintenance; Anthony Evans, Torrington Maintenance; Tye Jarrard, Kaycee Maintenance; Nathan Markworth, Casper Maintenance; and Richard Swanson, Douglas Maintenance.
Service Awards
Timothy Rasnake, Wheatland Construction – 25 years;


James Crowson, Casper Traffic-Striping – 20 years; and Jeromy Greene, Port of Entry-Torrington – 10 years.
Retirements
Christopher McGuire, a trooper II with Wyoming Highway Patrol, retired in February with seven years of service. McGuire most recently served with Troop F, which covers Platte and Goshen counties.


Congratulations
Mark Williams has been selected as WYDOT’s District Engineer for District 2 effective March 20, 2025.
District 3
Welcome
Marvin Bultema, Labarge Maintenance; Scott Darnall, Rock Springs Maintenance; Trace Harrington, Rock Springs Maintenance; Nathaniel Jacobsen, Rock Springs Maintenance-Guardrail; Paul Jarvis, Rock Springs Maintenance-Guardrail; and Joshua Myers, Rock Springs Maintenance-Guardrail.
Promotions and Transfers
William Baxter, Patrol-Pinedale; Chancey Duncan, Patrol-Rock Springs; Robert Shumway, Emergency Communications-District 3 Radio Shop; and David Webb, Evanston Maintenance.
Service Awards
Shad Welling, Driver Services-Regional District 3 – 15 years.



District 4 honored their service award recipients recently. From left: Chuck Thompson, Pole Creek Foreman – 25 years; Carson Morales, Sheridan Heavy Mechanic – 5 years; Seth McKee, Sundance Mechanic – 5 years; Debra Duffield, Gillette Construction – 35 years; and Jacob Williamson, Sheridan Construction – 5 years.
District 4
Welcome
Robert Gideon, Buffalo Construction.
Promotions and Transfers
Paul Brager, Burgess Junction Maintenance; and Tyler Carlson, Sheridan Maintenance-Guardrail.


Service Awards
Joshua Diede, Moorcroft Maintenance – 20 years.

District 5
Welcome
Heath Hopkin, Basin Maintenance; Andrew O’Neill, Shoshoni Maintenance; and Reece Ortiz, Lander Traffic-Striping.
Promotions and Transfers
Baylor Beers, Riverton Construction; Paul Hoverson, Riverton Construction; and Karissa Kister, Lander Construction.
Service
Awards
Matthew Hutson, Lander Construction –5 years.
Retirements

Capt. Jeramy Pittsley retired March 1 with more than 16 years of service to the state with the Wyoming Highway Patrol. Maj. James Thomas (right) presented him a plaque and a sign during a reception held for him in Thermopolis.


Preator (left) getting his FOS certificate for Power Trains from District 5 Equipment Supervisor Daren Wagner.

Saughn Defuentes (right) received his Master Technician certificate and hat from District 5 Equipment Supervisor Daren Wagner. Defuentes completed all of the FOS tests and gained his welding certification.

Mark Christopherson (right) received his Master Technician certificate and hat from District 5 Equipment Supervisor Daren Wagner. He completed all of the FOS tests and also attained his welding certification.



WTDEA
2025-2026 Headquarters Chapter scholarship
The 2025-26 Headquarters Chapter scholarship is now available for unmarried sons and daughters, spouses or legal dependents of Headquarters WTDEA members with two years of continuous membership. The scholarship committee requires a physical copy of the application plus all supporting documents to be submitted to the Justin Mordahl, scholarship chairman, by April 25.
The scholarship application can be found and downloaded from the Employee’s intranet site on the WTDEA Headquarters Chapter page.







Passings
Dorothy M. Allen
Dorothy “Dot” Allen, 92, passed away on March 8, 2025, in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Allen was born on May 16, 1932, in McCook, Nebraska, to Clara and Fordyce C. Steinhour. She retired from both the American National Bank and the Wyoming Highway Department, WYDOT’s predecessor agency. She worked in the Accounting-Financial Aid section, now a part of Financial Services.

Allen found joy in the great outdoors. She loved camping, fishing, and snowmobiling. She had a passion for cooking and grilling, taking pride in preparing meals for family and friends.
All services were held at Faith Baptist Church, in Cheyenne, on March 20. A viewing and a celebration of life was held and graveside services followed at Cheyenne Memorial Gardens.
Janet M. Belmonte
Janet Marie Belmonte, 62, died March 7, 2025 in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
don, who brought her great joy. After a divorce, Belmonte faced challenges but found a renewed sense of independence; approaching this new chapter of her life with determination and the strength to overcome whatever came her way.
Prior to her work at the Wyoming Water Development Commission, she spent a number of years in the records section at WYDOT. She retired with her 25-year milestone with the state of Wyoming. This milestone was incredibly important to her, representing the culmination of her hard work and commitment throughout her career.
Belmonte faced the profound challenges of early-onset Frontotemporal Dementia, a condition that dramatically altered her personality and daily life. This form of dementia affected her ability to think clearly and made it difficult for her to manage her emotions and behaviors. The dementia impacted on her decision-making abilities, making daily tasks overwhelming. Even tending to her home and caring for dog, Abby, became increasingly difficult for her.
She will be deeply missed by all who knew her. A celebration of life took place March 14, 2025.
Mary Ann Furtney
dance and reliability and her actions always proved it.
Although she was wonderful in the workplace, she was even more wonderful with her family, which is how she spent most of her time. She was the one who would give the shirt off her own back just so you didn’t go without.
Besides being with family, Furtney loved being with her dog, JoJo. Jojo was there through all her ups and downs, and she always swore that she looked like she was smiling at her. They were inseparable and loved sharing a cuddle and a meal.
Furtney was a great cook, her specialties including chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and gravy; and corned beef and cabbage, staying true to her Irish roots. She also enjoyed reading, specifically murder mysteries, her favorite author being James Patterson. She was an avid sports fan, never missing a game. Hockey, football and NASCAR were her favorites. Another of her favorite pastimes was volunteering her time at the Masonic Temple. She was a member of the Harmony Chapter #53 O.E.S. and served in many capacities.

Janet was born to Calvin and Emily Henry in Bangor, Maine on July 7, 1962. As the youngest of seven children, Belmonte brought love and warmth to her family. While her relationships with her siblings took different forms over the years, she always held a deep affection for them and valued the moments spent with her loved ones. Her kind and caring nature left a lasting impression on all who knew her. Among them, her beloved sisters, Becky and Joannie, remained her closest companions throughout her life, sharing countless memories and laughter.
As a military daughter and wife, she spent many years traveling the world with the U.S. Air Force, embracing the adventures and experiences that came with each new destination. She had one son, Bran-

Mary Ann Furtney, 83, passed away March 10 at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. She was born April 5, 1941, to Marion and Ima (Andrews) Hutton. She was born in Stratton, Colorado, and grew up with an older brother, Derrell.
Furtney was always known for her strength and her ability to get things done. With her outstanding work ethic, she was a successful business woman who originally earned her associates degree at the University of Northern Colorado. After deciding this was not the path for her, she began her career at the old Wyoming Highway Department, WYDOT’s predecessor agency. She was in the Accounting-Federal Aid section, which is now Financial Services, and worked there for more than 40 years. She took pride in her punctuality, atten-
Furtney was a woman of few words and enjoyed the simple things in life. She always said, “any day that you get to wake up to the sun shining and the birds chirping, you know it will be a good day.” And that is exactly how she spent her mornings: in her chair with Jojo in the sunlight, listening to the birds chirping, with her hazelnut coffee.
A private family celebration will be held at a later date.
Adam L. Uhrich
Adam “Addie” Leroy Uhrich, 88, passed away on March 11, 2025.
He was born on Aug. 23, 1936, to Adam and Dorothy Uhrich in Cheyenne, Wyoming. His father worked for Union Pacific; and the family moved to Hanna, Wyoming, when he was young. He often reminisced about how much he loved growing up and going to school in Hanna, where he graduated from Hanna High School. Uhrich attend-

ed the University of Wyoming, pursuing a degree in engineering. He retired from WYDOT in 1995, after 39 years as a supervisor of Highway Traffic Planning.
During his school years, he developed a passion for sports, playing football and forming a lifelong love for athletics, especially cheering for the Wyoming Cowboys, the Detroit Lions, Pistons and Tigers. His enthusiasm for the outdoors was just as strong – he found joy in camping, hunting, and fishing, particularly alongside his two sons, Terry and Cary. Whether reeling in walleye at Seminoe or later at Glendo, he cherished the time spent in nature.
In 1966, Addie met and married his lifelong love, Linda, embracing her passion for horses with the same dedication he had for hunting and fishing. Together, they raised and cared for many horses over the years, embarking on numerous pack trips into the Wind River Wilderness. When she decided that tent sleeping and elk hunting were best left to the boys, their sons eagerly carried on the tradition. When it came to bird hunting, pheasant was his favorite and he always had a great hunting dog at his side. He fell in love with German Wirehaired Pointers in the 1980s and always had at least one since then. His daughter, Jeri, developed a deep love for showing horses, and he proudly supported her every step of the way.
Uhrich became active in the LDS church later in life and enjoyed spending time with the friends he made there in Casper.
Above all, he was a family man. He never missed an opportunity to attend his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events, cheering them on with pride. His family was his greatest joy.
Uhrich’s son, Terry, is the District 2 Equipment Supervisor.
A viewing was held at Bustard and Jacoby Funeral Home, March 19, 2025 and the graveside service and interment was at Mountain View Memorial Park, in Cheyenne, on March 20.
Leroy T. Wells III
Leroy Theodore “Ted” Wells III, 70, passed away March 10, 2025, at his home in Green River, Wyoming with his loving wife by his side.
He was born Dec. 3, 1954 in Rapid City, South Dakota; the son of Leroy Theodore Wells II and Elizabeth M. Voorhees.

He advanced his education by earning a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, laying the groundwork for a distinguished career. Wells dedicated more than four decades to serving as a civil en gineer with the Wyoming Department of Transportation, ultimately retiring in 2021 after a well-earned and impactful career.


He married the love of his life Judy M. Weisgram on May 21, 1977 in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Beyond his professional commitments, Wells was a man of diverse interests. He cherished the time spent with his family, especially his adored grandchildren, fol lowing their various endeavors with great pride and enthusiasm. He was also an avid reader, finding joy and wisdom within the pages of countless books.




Cremation will take place; a celebration of life will be conducted at a later date.
Condolences may be left at www.vasefuneralhomes.com






Thumbs up from the Wyoming Tribune Eagle Editorial Board
Thumbs up to Sweetwater County first responders and employees at the Wyoming Department of Transportation for their rapid, competent handling of the recent triple-fatal pileup inside the westbound Interstate 80 tunnel near Green River.
In addition to the heroic efforts of a few individuals involved in or near the crash, the response by local first responders and recovery efforts by WYDOT crews were outstanding. WYDOT Director Darin Westby and Gov. Mark Gordon were on the scene the day after the crash, as well,
making sure the community had the latest information and responders had all of the resources they needed.
In less than a week, the eastbound tunnel was open to head-to-head traffic, which helped take the pressure off a twolane road through town that wasn’t meant to handle that many heavy vehicles or that kind of volume.
This rapid response, along with last year’s work to reopen Wyoming Highway 22 over Teton Pass following a massive landslide, shows what state employees and their private contractor partners can accomplish in a short amount of time. Wyoming residents and those who pass through the state are the beneficiaries of their competence and dedication.

Farewell WYDOT family
All, It has been a fun ride! We have built some pretty cool projects through the years and built some good relationships. I have enjoyed working with everybody through the years and appreciate everyone’s help in the accomplishments that we have made. We have had some challenges, but hope we have grown and learned from those situations. Good luck to everyone in the future.
I am not a fan of goodbyes, but see you later.
Jake Lonn, retired
Rawlins resident engineer





Outdoors


On a separate hunting trip, Lander
Leader
GETTING CRAFTY
Be on the lookout for our upcoming quarterly feature for crafty people! We will feature crafts and hobbies from all of our very talented WYDOT family. If you have a craft or hobby that you would like to showcase in our upcoming quarterly feature, email your submission to carlie.dakins@wyo.gov by April 15. The section will feature only one employee each quarter and will be a “show and tell” space, no selling.

Tina Erickson, with Highway Safety, shares a photo from an annual snowmobiling trip to Snowy Range with her husband, Cheyenne Highway Maintenance Tech Brian Erickson, and son, Brayden.

Tina Erickson, with Highway Safety, shares a photo from a recent elk hunting trip with her husband, Cheyenne Highway Maintenance Tech Brian Erickson, and son, Brayden.


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Wyoming Department of Transportation
5300 Bishop Blvd.
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009-3340
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