August 2019 Interchange

Interchange August 2019

Vol. 47, Issue 8

Heartwarming

Interchange

Vol. 47, Issue 8

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 Van Winkle, Interchange editor, 5300 Bishop Blvd., Cheyenne, Wyoming, 82009-3340.

The Public Affairs Office may also be contacted by sending an email to carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov.

Reprinted with permission.

Kurt Anselmi and Sharon Hunter from the Jackson office joined the duckling rescue in front of the WYDOT building in Jackson.

The ducklings all accounted for prior to reuniting with their mother.

Staff WYDOT Director: K. Luke Reiner

Public Affairs Manager: Doug McGee

Editor:

Carlie Van Winkle

Contributors:

Photo: Rebecca Huntington, Jackson Hole Daily

By Mark Huffman, Jackson Hole Daily A lot of alarmed quacking and a group of kindhearted Wyoming Department of Transportation employees led to the rescue of a brood of misplaced ducklings Friday morning, June 28.

The eight junior ducks didn’t recognize the dangers of a cattle guard near the WYDOT building south of Jackson and fell into a dark trap. A passerby saw an agitated mother duck raising a storm and let WYDOT workers know.

“Momma was frantic, she was going crazy at the cattle guard,” said WYDOT employee Tere Nelson.

It might have been a simple duckling grab rescue, but the empty space under the guard was close to 4-feet deep, Nelson said, “too far to reach.”

Sharon Hunter joined Nelson, and they soon had three WYDOT engineering department workers — Kurt Anselmi, Mark Shon and Travis Fitzgerald — with them at the duckling trap. They decided the only thing to do was bring in heavy equipment.

A dozer was used to lift a section of the cattle guard. The errant birds still had a space to hide, so Shon jumped in and captured them.

The WYDOT crew thought the mom looked to be a mallard, or maybe a teal of some kind. Mom and family were reunited in a pond adjacent to the WYDOT yard and were last seen paddling contentedly.

Photo: Rebecca Huntington, Jackson Hole Daily

Stray ducklings rescued

by WYDOT crew

Aimee Inama J.L. O’Brien Carlie Van Winkle Matt Murphy Jeff Goetz Stephanie Harsha Laura Dalles Cody Beers Sgt. Jeremy Beck

Photography: Rick Carpenter

Public Affairs Public Affairs Public Affairs District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5 Patrol Public Affairs

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.

Letters Beautifully maintained state highway We recently traveled on Highway 14 out of Cody and saw some of the most beautiful scenery we had ever seen.

Thank you to the men and women who

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maintain this highway. It is treacherous at times and yet so incredibly beautiful.

Your work is appreciated.

Thank you so very much. Please stay safe.

Ruth and Joe Dolan, Coggon, Iowa

A WYDOT PUBLICATION

Contents

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Features 10 New billboards highlight seat belt message in Fremont County 12 Astronomers Without Borders redistributes donated solar eclipse glasses

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Also in this issue Letters.........................................................................................2 District Briefs.............................................................................4 Noteworthy..............................................................................13 Extra Mile Awards..................................................................14 Awards......................................................................................16 Training.....................................................................................17 District News...........................................................................18 WTDEA..................................................................................... 20 By the Numbers............................................................. 20, 21 Passings....................................................................................21 Break Time.............................................................................. 23

On the cover:

Summertime in Wyoming.

Photo: Rick Carpenter

Kindly recycle this publication after reading.

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Commission awards $27.8 million in highway contracts in July CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Transportation will replace a bridge and widen a section of WYO 59 near Gillette to improve driving conditions.

The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded Northern Improvement Co., of Fargo, North Dakota, a $11.7 million contract for the WYO 59 work between Gillette and the Montana state line in Campbell County. The commission awarded that and eight other contracts totaling $27.8 million at its recent meeting.

For the WYO 59 work, crews will widen and pave about eight miles of road.

They will also build a new bridge near the old one.

Traffic will remain on the old bridge until the new one is finished. Once the new bridge opens, traffic will be diverted to that structure and crews will demolish the old bridge. The contract completion date is Oct. 31, 2020.

Other contracts the commission awarded included performing traffic control signal upgrades, installing passing lanes and performing paving work.

Mountain Construction Co., of Lovell, won a $5.8 million contract for the installation of seven passing lanes and two left turning lanes on US 20-26 between Waltman and Shoshoni in Fremont and Natrona counties.

The passing and turn lanes will help with traffic flow. The contract completion date is Oct. 31, 2020.

H-K Contractors Inc., of Idaho Falls, Idaho, was the low bidder on a $3 million paving contract on three miles of US 26-89-189-191 south of Jackson in Teton County.

Crews will mill and pave the road. The contract completion date is Oct. 31, 2020.

The commission also awarded Mountain Construction Co. a $1.8 million

HQ

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contract for a widening project on US 287 and WYO 789 south of Lander in Fremont County.

Crews will add a center turning lane on a mile of the road to help with traffic flow. The contract completion date is Oct. 31, 2020.

Wilson Brothers Construction Inc. won a $1.4 million culvert repair contract at several locations on Interstate 90 in Sheridan County.

Crews will install plastic liners inside 21 culvert pipes and put cement between the liners and the original pipes to make the current pipes stronger. Crews will also clean out 52 additional pipes along I-90.

The contract completion date is May 31, 2020.

The commission also awarded contracts for: • $1.4 million to Advanced Electrical Contracting Inc., of Sheridan, for seven new side-mounted dynamic message signs in Big Horn, Fremont, Hot Springs, Park, Teton and Washakie counties by June 30, 2020; • $1 million to Scott Brothers Inc., of Gillette, for upgrades to traffic signals at three intersections in Gillette in Campbell County by July 31, 2020; • $938,024 to Reiman Corp., of Cheyenne, for a county bridge replacement on County Road 6-561S south of Savory in Carbon County by Sept. 30, 2020; and • $515,097 to JTL Group Inc., of Cheyenne, for a pipe repair contract at three locations on Interstate 25 between Wheatland and Kaycee Road in Natrona and Platte counties

by Oct. 31.

WYDOT auctions two more ‘Welcome to Wyoming’ signs CHEYENNE – People who may have missed the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s last “Welcome to Wyoming” sign auction have another chance to own a piece of history.

WYDOT is holding an online auction

Photo: WYDOT

District Briefs

for two 4-by-8-foot aluminum “Welcome to Wyoming” signs featuring the Grand Tetons. The signs feature the Tetons as the background image, with the bucking horse and rider and the words “Forever West” in the foreground.

“These are the last known state line signs to exist from that vintage,” said Joel Meena, state Traffic engineer. “These have the potential to appeal to a collector because they’re unique. Rarely do you see a state line sign that is as colorful and scenic as Wyoming’s. We have led the nation on the look and feel of our state line signs.”

Those interested in placing a bid will need to do so by Aug. 5. The first sign auction ends at 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 5 while the second ends at 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 5.

Staggering the ending times gives people a chance to get their bids in if they missed the first one.

The two signs come from the northwest part of the state, are in like-new condition and were not used on the roadside.

“They’re both in excellent condition,” said Jeff Madden, WYDOT warehouse manager.

WYDOT previously auctioned five 4-by-8-foot signs featuring the Tetons during the summer of 2017. Those signs were posted at different parts of Wyoming at the state line.

Department employees recently discovered the last two signs in storage, so officials decided to hold another auction for those.

The money raised from this auction will go back into the department’s road improvement fund, just like it did for the 2017 auction. In 2017, the auction raised about $33,000.

Two unused state welcome signs were found in storage and have been put up for auction.

Chip seal work on WYO 130, WYO 230 LARAMIE – Chip seal work on recently repaved sections of WYO 130 and WYO 230 began on July 29.

WYO 130 from mileposts 0-10 was resurfaced in 2018, and WYO 230 from mileposts 22-33 was resurfaced this summer. A final chip seal layer will extend the life of the new road surface.

A pilot car will guide traffic through each project.

Simon Contractors is the contractor for the WYO 130 project, and McGarvin Moberly Construction is the contractor for WYO 230.

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Work on WYO 789 RAWLINS – Work to resurface part of WYO 789 and rehab a bridge between Creston Junction and Baggs began July 29.

Crews with McGarvin Moberly Construction began traffic control at milepost 30.37, which is the location of the bridge rehab over Muddy Creek about 20 miles north of Baggs.

During the rehab part of the project, one direction of traffic will be allowed to cross the bridge at a time. A temporary traffic signal will be in place.

A second bridge rehab will begin Sept.

9 at milepost 20.59.

In addition to the bridge rehabs, WYO 789 will be resurfaced from about milepost 20 to near milepost 30.

WHP trooper injured in two vehicle collision CHEYENNE – On July 25 a Wyoming Highway Patrol vehicle was involved in a motor vehicle collision. The collision occurred at West Jefferson Road and US 85 south of Cheyenne.

A WHP trooper was patrolling southbound on US 85 when a Dodge Ram pickup truck entered US 85 from East Jefferson Road causing both vehicles to collide.

The trooper and the driver of the Dodge were transported to the Cheyenne

Regional Medical Center with minor injuries.

US 30 speed limit in east Cheyenne to return to 55 mph CHEYENNE – The speed limit on US 30 from Pershing Boulevard east to Dell Range Boulevard returned to 55 mph July 8, following the completion of road work in the area.

The speed limit had been 45 mph during construction.

WYDOT data supports setting the speed limit at 55 mph. However, the department will continue to monitor and analyze the area in case future changes need to be made.

“Our goal is for the public to travel US 30 safely and efficiently,” said District Engineer Tom DeHoff. “We understand the concerns residents have expressed to us over the last year, and we hear them. At the same time, our solutions need to be data-driven so as not to end up creating hazards on US 30.”

Over the last few months, WYDOT has built new offset right turn lanes at US 30 and Whitney Road, added stop bars at intersections along US 30, and erected larger stop signs. The stop signs at Whitney and US 30 have flashing beacons, and intersection warning signs with flashing beacons have also been added to that intersection.

The department plans to install overhead flashing lights at US 30’s intersections with Whitney Road and Dell Range Boulevard. That project will go to contract soon and is estimated to be completed by the end of the year.

In 2024, WYDOT plans to widen US 30 to five lanes (four travel lanes and a center turn lane) from Pershing Boulevard to the UPRR bridge at Archer. At that time, traffic signals may be warranted at Whitney Road and US 30.

Resurfacing work at Wagonhound rest area near Arlington LARAMIE – The Wagonhound rest area at milepost 267 near Arlington was closed in early July for annual maintenance.

WYDOT crews cleaned and resurfaced the I-80 Wagonhound interchange and the entrance road to the rest area. The rest area was closed July 8 and 9.

Asphalt patching work in Cheyenne, Medicine Bow LARAMIE – A job to patch or repave short sections of roads in Cheyenne and Medicine Bow began early in July and will continue through the end of August.

Crews with Knife River started the week of July 8. They began in Cheyenne, moved to Medicine Bow during Frontier Days and then returned to Cheyenne for the remaining work.

Cheyenne July 11-12: Central Avenue from the WYDOT Headquarters entrance to the Bishop Boulevard crosswalk.

Aug. 5-20: College Drive/WYO 212 from the west entrance of Laramie County Community College east to Crow Creek.

Aug. 12-28: Lincolnway/US 30 from Nationway to Morrie Avenue.

Medicine Bow July 15-Aug. 7: WYO 487 from milepost 0 (at US 30/287) to milepost 4.5.

Work closed access to Sunset Drive from Dewar Drive ROCK SPRINGS – The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) closed access to Sunset Drive from Dewar Drive on July 8 for two days. Crews conducted paving overlay work on Sunset Drive for a week.

Crews started with the intersection of Dewar Drive and Sunset Drive. WYDOT reduced traffic to one-lane at times, controlled by flaggers on Sunset Drive.

Traffic to and from Dewar Drive and Sunset Drive was maintained via the Dewar Drive frontage road in front of the Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce building and down to the approach near Rock Springs National Bank. Access to Gateway Boulevard from Dewar Drive was not affected by the work. Paving

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project.”

The TW Road project was estimated to cost $3.7 million. Johnson County Road and Bridge will take ownership of the road once the project has been finalized and it will become the responsibility of the county to maintain.

Briefs continued from page 5 work also took place the next week on the North I-80 Service Road. Drivers saw lane reductions, but minimal disruption.

The project is part of a district-wide pavement patching job. The completion date for this project is Oct. 31. The project was awarded to Lewis & Lewis.

Photo: WYDOT

Gillette construction experiencing busiest summer yet

TW Road completed BUFFALO – The Industrial Road Program (IRP) Collaboration between WYDOT District 4 and Johnson County Road and Bridge has been completed.

Also known as Johnson County Road 204, TW Road lies on the eastern edge of Buffalo and is the route to the city landfill, thus qualifying for Industrial Roads Program (IRP) funds.

The IRP is a state-funded road construction program created to assist counties and communities with economic development efforts. IRP funding is equally matched with private industrial development and/or locally generated funds.

The program provides state funding to supplement private industrial for construction and reconstruction of roadways serving private industrial facilities.

Operating facilities benefit the county and affected communities as a source of employment, tax generation, property valuation, resource refinement and other beneficial uses.

“This county road saw a lot of heavy truck traffic, and with only two lanes and no shoulders, the road was beginning to fail,” WYDOT Resident Engineer Isaac Finkle said. “With this project, TW Road was widened to three lanes through the industrial section and shoulders were widened throughout the length of the

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GILLETTE –Overseeing roughly six projects throughout the city and county has Resident Engineer, Josh Jundt and his team, including summer interns and design squad members, staying busy. Two of the key projects include Garner Lake Road and WYO 50.

The Garner Lake Road – a two-phase new-construction route designed to accommodate heavy truck traffic in Gillette – is on track for its 2020 completion date.

The first phase is a new roadway which provides a second north-south access to north WYO 59. Referred to as North Garner Lake Road, this two-lane road begins near the Dry Fork Station power plant and extends roughly 3 miles east to the existing Garner Lake Road and includes a new overpass and double-track railroad bridge.

This project is a partnership among WYDOT, Campbell County Commission, Contura Coal West, Western Fuels Wyoming Inc. and WYODAK Resource Development Corporation LLC. The second phase, which began this summer, includes a realignment, widening, mill and overlay of the existing Garner Lake Road to the east and is on schedule to be completed in 2020.

The cost of this new construction project was estimated at $34.2 million.

WYDOTs portion of the funding of $24.2 million came from the state of Wyoming Mineral Impacted Road account established by the Wyoming Legislature in 2016. This fund is earmarked for relocation, construction or improvement of roads and bridges directly impacted by development of coal resources. Campbell County Commission, Contura Coal West, Western Fuels Wyoming Inc. and WYODAK Resource Development Corporation LLC added another $10 million.

In addition to Garner Lake Road, a two-mile section of WYO 50 from West

Lakeway Road to Southern Drive has been closed to local traffic since Memorial Day weekend.

The purpose of this project is to upgrade the highway to current standards, improve safety and increase the capacity of this section of highway. WYO 50 has seen an increase in traffic resulting in congestion, higher frequency of crashes at intersections and an increase in large and oversize loads supporting the energy industry, creating the need for the upgrade.

This project will widen the existing rural two-lane roadway to a five-lane section with curb and gutter. Travel lanes will be 12-feet wide with a continuous 11-foot center left turn lane. In addition, a 10-foot multi-use path will be installed on the east side of the road to provide continuity with the pathway located north of the project and also provide a connection to the city of Gillette pathway system within the project limits. A 5-foot sidewalk will be installed on the west side of the project.

Pedestrian crossing at Devils Tower complete HULETT – The work to widen and overlay the entrance into Devils Tower National Monument began last summer but was snowed out by early storms and low temperatures. Crews were able to get sidewalks installed, the roadway widened and a first layer of paving in place before winter set in. The final top lift was laid down and the traffic signal and iconic flagpole were installed. There are now 8-foot shoulders for approximately the first half of WYO 110 starting at the WYO 24 junction. This allows tourists to pull off the road and take pictures safely while still allowing traffic to flow.

The traffic signal and pedestrian crosswalk was installed in addition to right and left turn near the park entrance. This will allow traffic going to the Trading Post and KOA to get to their destination without waiting in line with park traffic.

It also provides additional stacking lanes for traffic into the park to minimize traffic from backing up onto WYO 24. With the addition of the turning lanes, a new storm-water system was installed.

“These improvements have had a tremendous effect on traffic flow this summer,” said WYDOT Resident Engineer Preston Beckstead. “Accessing and navi-

Photo: WYDOT

Pedestrian crossing and intersection near Devils Tower National Monument is complete.

WYO 120 pavement improvement project on Meeteetse Rim CODY – A $2.6 million pavement improvement project is underway between Meeteetse and Cody.

Prime contractor on the Meeteetse Rim project is McGarvinMoberly Construction Co., of Worland.

The WYO 120 project begins north of Meeteetse just west of Greybull River Road (milepost 57.924) to north of Meeteetse Rim (milepost 63.065).

By contract, all work on the 5.4-mile project must be completed this year except for chip sealing. Contract completion date is June 30, 2020.

supervisor Jim Thomas of Lander. “The highway was extremely slick, so Dubois firefighters’ assistance was key in the cleanup effort. We appreciate these guys.”

WYDOT brought a snow plow truck, loader and broom to the site. Crew involved in the cleanup effort included Thomas, two WYDOT maintenance workers from Riverton, and four maintenance crew members from Dubois.

The mud flows plugged a culvert under US 26/287 several times.

The flooding occurred July 22 between mileposts 69 and 70, and at milepost 70.2 on July 23.

Workers were able to avoid a highway closure by moving one-lane traffic through the area with the use of WYDOT flaggers.

WYDOT District Engineer Pete Hallsten visited the flooded site, and he said WYDOT would assess the need for a future project to move future mud flows toward the Wind River.

This same area flooded several years ago during a similar rain event. WYDOT also responded to that event; it included removing dozens of old tires, mud and water from the roadway with crew members and a plow truck.

Photo: Rood Dog Video Productions

gating the park entrance has improved considerably. These improvements have increased traffic flow, decreased wait time and allowed locals and tourists easier access to and from the park.”

Roadway construction continues on WYO 132 near Ethete

Dubois-area rain events flood US 26/287 with water, mud DUBOIS – Twice during the week of July 21, rain-induced water and mud flows flowed across US 26/287, about 13.5 miles east of Dubois.

Wyoming Department of Transportation maintenance crew members were on site to plow mud and water off the highway on July 22 and July 23.

WYDOT received assistance from the Dubois Volunteer Fire Department “in washing the slick mud off the highway,” according to WYDOT area maintenance

Photo: WYDOT

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A WYDOT plow pushing water from the highway after heavy rains in July.

1,000-yard concrete pour caught on camera in Riverton

ETHETE – Dirt grading continues between Ethete and Wyoming Indian High School on the $14.63 million WYO 132 (Blue Sky Highway) highway improvement project.

Prime contractor High Country Construction, Inc., of Lander “is continuing with dirt grading and placing of pit run subbase (rocks and dirt) for the next couple of weeks,” said Wyoming Department of Transportation Project Engineer Brian Martin of Lander. “Starting July 22, the contractor began dirt grading between the realignment area just south of Wyoming Indian to the Ethete traffic signal.”

Martin said accesses to the new highway will be built to grade and slopes will be completed in August.

“Paving activities are scheduled to begin in late September,” Martin said.

“Chip sealing, in all likelihood, will occur next year.”

Improvements on the Blue Sky highway improvement project, prior to the contract completion date of Oct. 31, include grading, draining, milling asphalt pavement, placing gravel pit run and crushed gravel, asphalt paving, chip sealing, electrical work and other work on seven miles of WYO 132 north of Lander.

RIVERTON – Concrete workers from S&S Builders, LLC, of Gillette rolled on toward Sunset Drive July 19 on North Federal Boulevard in Riverton.

The concrete pour was in excess of 1,000 cubic yards (100 concrete trucks), the largest one-day pour so far in the twoyear, $13.96 million highway improvement project. Work started at 5:30 a.m., and it was completed about 3:15 p.m.

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Paving portion of passing-lane project underway on WYO 789 RIVERTON – Placement of crushed gravel base is nearly complete on 1.8 miles of new passing lanes between Riverton and Hudson and milling and asphalt paving operations began the last week of July on the $6.8 million WYO 789 project.

Prime contractor is McGarvin-Moberly Construction Co., of Worland, and the dirt subcontractor is High Country Construction Inc., of Lander.

When construction is complete, the passing lanes north of Hudson will be a four-lane section of WYO 789 with passing opportunities in each direction.

“The new 1.8-mile, four-lane highway section will begin about 5 miles north of Hudson and continues for 1.8 miles (mileposts 95.46 to 97.27),” said Wyoming Department of Transportation Resident Engineer Erik Smith of Lander.

Besides construction of passing lanes, the project’s scope of work includes a 3-inch pavement overlay, chip seal finish, grading, draining, placing crushed gravel base, fencing, bridge repair and other work on about 7 miles of WYO 789, which includes work inside the town of Hudson on WYO 789.

“Paving and the chip seal are currently scheduled to be complete by Aug. 15,” said WYDOT Project Engineer Bryant Collins of Lander.

The contractor’s current work schedule calls for work to begin with a “silica fume overlay late this month on the Rodgers and Gregg bridge,” Collins said, with project reclamation and minor items scheduled for completion in September.

Contract completion date is Oct. 31.

Pavement improvement project near Shoshoni SHOSHONI – A $1.25 million pavement improvement project began July 19 in the town of Shoshoni continuing west of Shoshoni on US 20/26/WYO 789.

Prime contractor Century Companies Inc., of Lewiston, Montana, began milling asphalt pavement on July 19, according to Wyoming Department of Transportation Resident Engineer Robert Scheidemantel

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of Riverton.

The US 20/26/WYO 789 portion of the pavement improvement project begins 6 miles west of Shoshoni (milepost 121.18) and extends to the junction of WYO 789 and US 20/26 in Shoshoni (milepost 127.29). The project also includes .37 of a mile of pavement improvements from the WYO 789 junction to the north edge of Shoshoni (milepost 100.47).

The project on US 20/26 and WYO 789 includes profile milling in the town of Shoshoni and 1-inch pavement leveling.

Contract completion date is Oct. 31.

Century Companies just completed work on a $2.72 million Sand Draw pavement improvement project on WYO 135, southeast of Riverton. When paving is complete on the Shoshoni-area project, the Shoshoni and Sand Draw projects will be chip-sealed by the contractor in August.

Powder River Pass tornado TEN SLEEP – On June 19, 2019, a thunderstorm developed on the border of Park and Big Horn counties around 5 p.m. As this storm moved east it strengthened and reached its peak intensity in southeastern Big Horn County.

The storm crossed into Johnson County and produced a tornado on Powder River Pass in the Bighorn Mountains just before 7 p.m. There was considerable tree damage along and near US 16 as the tornado moved east along its 3.7 mile path.

Hundreds of conifer trees were uprooted or snapped at their trunks. Additionally, several large wooden WYDOT snow fences were torn apart along the District 4 and 5 line, with fencing debris thrown in all directions.

This tornado was unusual in that it occurred at a high elevation of just under 10,000 feet along its western path.

The damage produced by this storm was consistent with an EF-1 tornado, with estimated peak winds of 110 mph.

This was the second tornado – the other was June 1, 2018, 10-15 miles southwest of Powder River Pass near Dull Knife Reservoir – to hit this area in a little over a year.

Photo: NOAA

Briefs continued from page 7

WYDOT snow fencing on Powder River Pass near US 16 took a hit from a tornado during a severe storm at a high altitude on June 19.

West half of Webbwood Road closed July 15; more concrete street paving scheduled RIVERTON – With summer heat bearing down on central Wyoming, construction activities forge ahead on the $13.96 million North Federal Boulevard highway improvement project in Riverton.

The west half of the Webbwood Road/ North Federal Boulevard intersection closed to traffic July 15, and traffic patterns were adjusted to run on part of the east half of the newly rebuilt North Federal Boulevard.

“Traffic patterns are scheduled to be adjusted mid-July using an ‘S’ curve between Miniwebb Avenue and Big Horn Co-Op,” said Wyoming Department of Transportation Resident Engineer Robert Scheidemantel of Riverton. “This will allow work to continue near the Sunset Drive intersection, and it will allow work to begin on the Webbwood intersection.”

‘Alive at 25’ driver awareness class RIVERTON – Every year, young adult drivers are involved in crashes that sometimes result in fatalities. To save lives and equip young drivers with the tools to drive more defensively, an Alive at 25 class was held in Riverton in July.

The class was July 19 at the Riverton Library and was free for young drivers ages 15 to 24. A $35 admission was charged for court-mandated students.

Attendance in the class may make the young adults eligible for discounts on

LOVELL – A week’s worth of US 310 chip sealing began July 1 on the $11.7 million Sage Creek highway and bridge improvement project between Lovell and Cowley.

Shoshone River bridge improvements are continuing, and traffic will soon be moving across the river via the outside of each side of the bridge.

“Work will begin soon on the two lanes on the inside of the bridge,” said Wyoming Department of Transportation Resident Engineer Michael Miller of Basin. “Demolition of the old railroad bridge is ongoing and should be complete in early July.”

The $11.7 million Sage Creek highway and bridge improvement project consists of road widening, bridge widening over the Shoshone River, replacement of the Sage Creek and railroad bridges, asphalt paving, and other work.

Prime contractor is S&S Builders LLC, of Gillette. Contract completion date is Oct. 31.

US 14 paving east of Greybull near Shell

MEETEETSE – Paving and chip sealing is underway on a $2.3 million pavement improvement project west of Meeteetse on WYO 290.

“Paving is expected to take two to three weeks,” said Wyoming Department of Transportation Resident Engineer Todd Frost of Cody.

The project begins at milepost 6.06, about 6 miles west of Meeteetse, and continues 5.2 miles to the end of the statemaintained section of WYO 290.

The scope of work on the West Wood River project includes milling of the existing pavement surfacing, placement of 1 inch of pavement leveling, placement of 2 inches of pavement, and a chip seal finish.

The existing guardrail is being replaced or adjusted as needed. Mailbox turnouts are being constructed as needed, and slopes are being flattened as needed.

Prime contractor on the MeeteetsePitchfork project is McGarvin-Moberly Construction Co., of Worland. Contract completion date is Oct. 31. n

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GREYBULL – Paving is underway on a $2.3 million pavement rehabilitation project through the community of Shell on US 14.

Mountain Construction Co., of Lovell, is the prime contractor.

Project completion date is June 30, 2020.

Paving project on WYO 290 west of Meeteetse

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US 310 chip seal project between Lovell, Cowley

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their automobile insurance.

“With the recent uptick in young fatalities in the Riverton area, it is evident that an Alive At 25 class would be beneficial to the Fremont County area to remind young drivers of the importance of safe driving,” said Lt. Travis Hauser of the Wyoming Highway Patrol. “All students must register through the Alive at 25 website (www.aliveat25.us). There are two ways to take the course, either through the county attorney from a citation (cost is $35) or by signing up on the website.”

The Alive at 25 classes are facilitated by Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers who use personal examples and humor to develop understanding, workbook exercises, interactive media segments, group discussions, role-playing and short lectures “to help young drivers develop convictions and strategies that will keep them safer on the road,” Hauser said.

“This is a highly interactive 4 1/2-hour program to encourage young drivers between the ages of 14 and 24 to take responsibility for their driving behavior,” Hauser continued. “Alive at 25 teaches that young people are more likely to be hurt or killed in a vehicle crash: inexperience, distractions and peer pressure cause unique driving hazards. Speeding, alcohol and “party drugs” greatly increase risk of injury or death. As a driver or passenger, young people can greatly reduce risks by taking control. Committing to changing driving behavior makes personal, legal and financial sense.”

Take “cone zone” conditions with you. Get the WYOMING 511 app. www.wyoroad.info

Know before you go.

Visit wyoroad.info.

WYDOT’s Travel Information System is the one and ONLY source for up-to-the-minute road and travel information.

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Photo: WYDOT

Michael Chingman of Fort Washakie and his late mother, Phyllis Trosper. She died in 2017.

Photo: WYDOT

By Cody Beers A new Wind River Reservation billboard campaign uses a local Native American’s photographs to highlight the importance of seat belt use in saving lives.

The creative work of Eastern Shoshone tribal member Michael Chingman of Fort Washakie is featured in the new seat belt billboards, which as part of the highway safety message, uses “thank you” in the Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone languages.

The highway safety billboards, featuring tipis on the Wind River Reservation, are located south of Riverton on WYO 789, and north of Lander on US 287.

“I love taking pictures of our Native American culture, and my photographs may include dancers, tipis and our everyday lives,” Chingman said. “I love that some of my pictures capture the colors and the clear blue sky for the world to see.

My photography gives a glimpse into the true beauty of our world and our lives.”

Chingman supports efforts by the Wyoming Department of Transportation, Injury Prevention Resources, law enforcement agencies and other groups in improving driver behavior in Fremont County.

“Buckling seat belts is so important, much like the beauty of the Wind River Reservation. Our world can be safe and beautiful,” Chingman said. “Seat belts save lives.”

The Wind River Reservation highway safety program is in its ninth year in Fremont County, and it has featured hundreds of youth and adults, all members of the Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone tribes. The program is a highway safety project of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes, the Wyoming Seatbelt Coalition and WYDOT. For more information, go to #buckleup4lifewy. n

Photo: Michael Chingman

New billboards highlight seat belt message in Fremont County

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Summer parties are in full gear.

Law enforcement will be cracking down on drunk drivers.

Please designate a sober driver.

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE

WHO THINK

THEY HAVE THEIR CHILD IN THE RIGHT SEAT.

THE ONES

WHO ACTUALLY DO.

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Astronomers Without Borders redistributes donated solar eclipse glasses

By J.L. O’Brien For the first time since the Transcontinental Total Solar Eclipse that brought hundreds of thousands of tourists to Wyoming Aug. 21, 2017, a solar eclipse crossed a 6,800-mile area of South America July 2, and Wyomingites still played a small role in the thousands viewing the celestial event.

Forty thousand pairs of glasses collected in Wyoming by the Wyoming Department of Transportation and sent to Astronomers Without Borders (AWB) were recycled and reused in Chile and Argentina.

“We are proud to report that we sent 40,000 glasses that you gathered from your local area to give generously to those in South America who witnessed a total solar eclipse today,” Zoe Chee, Astronomers Without Borders program director said in an email. “By your small effort of being the collector of so many glasses, you have reached across geographic and political borders to share an experience of a lifetime and connect yourself with somebody else who has experienced something life changing.”

AWB Founder and President Mike Simmons said that more than 100 million glasses were manufactured for the 2017 event in an interview in August of 2017 after the eclipse.

Simmons said the nonprofit organization collects and redistributes the glasses around the world where there will be upcoming eclipses. The program helps schools better prepare for educating students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics who might not be able to afford the glasses otherwise.

Simmons said many schools in these countries don’t have the

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resources to put labs in schools so students can get firsthand experience with science and redistributing the eclipse glasses gives the schools and teachers the opportunity to do something they wouldn’t be able to otherwise.

“Astronomy is a gateway field,” Simmons said. “It gives a opportunity to bridge into a number of other scientific fields. It’s even more important in other countries where they don’t have the opportunity.”

In the long-term, it’s about inspiring students and teachers to get involved with and go into scientific fields, he said.

Simmons was in Casper in 2017 handing out eclipse glasses up until the event.

AWB distributed 130,000 sets of glasses, mostly in schools in economically disadvantaged areas and children’s hospitals leading up to the North American total eclipse.

Many fake eclipse glasses were distributed during the event.

Simmons stopped several people in Casper from using them, giving them glasses he knew would protect their eyes. As part of the process of redistributing the glasses for this program, AWB worked with Explore Scientific out of Springdale, Arizona, to sort through and ensure the redistributed glasses are not fake or damaged before being used again.

Astronomers Without Borders is now working to send out more glasses to countries in Asia for an annular solar eclipse happening on Dec. 26, 2019.

For more information or to donate, visit https://astronomerswithoutborders.org/. n

Noteworthy Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) Director Luke Reiner testified before a U.S. Senate committee about the importance of continuing federal support for transportation in rural states.

Reiner testified before the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on July 10 in Washington, D.C. during a hearing entitled Investing in America’s Transportation Infrastructure: The Need for a Multi-Year Reauthorization Bill.

U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., is the chairman of the committee, which is currently drafting a bill to extend many of these programs.

“I appreciate this opportunity to testify before this committee concerning the role rural states like Wyoming play in our nation’s economy,” Reiner said. “Interstates 80, 25 and 90 are major routes for our

Photo courtesy of AASHTO

WYDOT Director Reiner addresses U.S. Senate committee

WYDOT Director Luke Reiner with UDOT Executive Director Carlos Braceras at the EPW Commitee hearing on July 10 in Washington D.C.

state and we want to ensure our infrastructure not only meets the needs of our state’s economy but the nation’s as well.”

During Reiner’s testimony, he will ask for continued federal support for transportation in rural states. Reiner will speak about the nationwide importance of fund-

‘Wild Horse Highway’ signs erected east of Cody alongside US 14/16/20

tional opportunities for the public to learn about the mustangs and the McCullough Peak Herd Management Area, and work with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to effectively manage the herd management area,” said FOAL Executive Director Marion Morrison and FOAL President Mary Scuffman.

A celebration of the mustangs and FOAL President Mary Scuffman (left) and FOAL “Wild Horse High- Executive Director Marion Morrison at the way” is planned for newly installed sign.

10 a.m., Aug. 24, at an interpretive kiosk, about 27 miles east of Cody, adjacent to US 14/16/20, according to Scuffman. For more information, go to www.FriendsofaLegacy.org. n

Photo: WYDOT

Photo: WYDOT

A pair of signs were erected the morning of July 1 east of Cody on US 14/16/20, signifying a legislatively mandated name change for a stretch of the highway between Oregon Basin and WYO 32 (Emblem Road).

Members of Friends of a Legacy (FOAL) joined the Wyoming Department of Transportation sign crew members Dan Flores and Larry Stanger at the low-key event alongside US 14/16/20.

The “Wild Horse Highway” signs signify the name change, but more importantly help to “enhance the habitat for all creatures living in the wild horse herd management area, provide educa-

ing rural transportation as roads in states like Wyoming are used to transport goods across the nation.

Reiner will speak about the importance of using formula funding that provides money directly to the states instead of competitive discretionary funds that are awarded based on a review process, which can be slower.

Reiner will also testify about rules reductions to increase the impact of each program dollar while still preserving the environment and ensuring adherence to federal law.

Reiner will explain the importance of a multi-year bill that will enable states to plan, design and build projects. That multi-year bill will need to have funding exceeding current levels to enhance safety, increase mobility, create jobs and strengthen the economy.

Reiner will submit his written statements on behalf of the five rural state coalition, which includes WYDOT and the Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota departments of transportation.

His statements will also address legislation priorities for WYDOT and the other departments in renewing highway and other surface transportation programs. n

Basin Traffic sign crew members Dan Flores and Larry Stanger install the Wild Horse Highway sign along US 14/16/20.

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Noteworthy Proposed changes to transportation bill could provide additional money to WYDOT

By Aimee Inama Proposed changes in the new surface transportation bill would provide additional funding for the Wyoming Department of Transportation and other state DOTs for future construction projects.

The U.S. Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee, chaired by U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., is working to advance changes to the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, which is set to expire on Sept. 30, 2020.

“Senator Barrasso has been a huge champion and I commend the committee’s efforts to improve the FAST Act and support vital improvements to our state’s transportation infrastructure,” Gov. Mark Gordon said.

WYDOT Director K. Luke Reiner said the proposed bill will help ensure WYDOT and other state DOTs continue to make vital transportation improvements.

“Chairman Barrasso’s legislation includes increased funding, so that we can better meet the transportation needs of people and businesses throughout Wyoming,” Reiner said. “Whether

our highways are moving people driving to work or seeing the doctor, or tourists visiting our scenic state, or carrying commercial trucks full of groceries or cattle, under the legislation WYDOT will be able to do more to improve the route. Reforms in the bill will allow us to be more efficient – to complete work more promptly and with fewer regulatory costs. This legislation is extremely positive for Wyoming.”

The committee’s bill will focus on long-term funding by providing WYDOT and other DOTs with five-year highway and other transportation-related funding.

The increase is likely to be greatest in the first year, followed by smaller growth in the subsequent four years.

The bill would provide about 90 percent of its funding through formula, comparable to current law.

“As a member of the five rural state coalition, rural states like Wyoming and others prefer funding through established formulas like this as it is the quickest way to put money to work to improve infrastructure,” Reiner said.

The bill requires work by the Finance (funding), Banking (transit) and Commerce (trucking and safety) committees before it could advance to the Senate as a complete surface transportation package.

If Congress passes the funding levels in the bill, it would provide $287 billion for highway infrastructure over five years. n

Civil Rights

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CIV I

S T H G IL RI

CIV

CIV

Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act provides that no person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin, or sex be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance (please refer to 23 CFR 200.9 and 49 CFR 21).

Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987 broadened the scope of Title VI coverage by expanding the definition of terms “programs or activities” to include all programs or activities of Federal Aid recipients, subrecipients, and contractors, whether such programs and activities are federally assisted or not.

The Civil Rights Program manager, as the Title VI coordinator, is charged with the responsibility for implement-

IGH L R TS

RIGHTS IL

Civil Rights Program highlights – Title VI

ing, monitoring, and ensuring WYDOT’s compliance with Title VI regulations. The responsibilities include, but are not limited to, data collection, program reviews (WYDOT, subreceipient, etc.), training, reporting and complaint investigation.

If you have any questions, comments or would like more information about Title VI or any of the other Civil Rights programs, please do not hesitate to contact the Civil Rights office. n

Congratulations to our June recipients!

WYDOT salutes the following Director’s Extra Mile Award recipients. The award is presented to individuals who have traveled the “extra mile” in service to WYDOT.

Dan Flores Travis Schriner Larry Stanger For more information about the Extra Mile Award or to nominate someone, contact your HR representative.

Travel & Tourism Now available: 2019/2020 Exposure Opportunities catalog The Wyoming Office of Tourism (WOT) provides a variety of exposure opportunities to industry partners.

Partners are invited to advertise on WOT-owned channels such as TravelWyoming.com as well as Wyoming’s Official Travel Guide. Advertising on WOT’s owned channels allows you to reach the most highly qualified audience.

WOT also offers several co-op marketing opportunities. Co-ops are available through the marketing campaign, search engine marketing (SEM), and more. These Co-ops allow industry partners to participate in campaigns at a discounted price.

Team up with WOT in your marketing! To learn more about these opportunities, visit the catalog. n

Aeronautics USDOT announces $10.4 million in infrastructure grants to eight airports in Wyoming

governments. The Aeronautics Division is also involved with the planning and engineering of these projects.

All of the projects put forward in the planning phase are approved by the Wyoming Aeronautics Commission through the Aeronautics Division’s Wyoming Aviation Capital Improvement Program. Projects are thoroughly vetted and all necessary information has been coordinated before grant applications are made.

The FAA typically awards between $30-35 million to Wyoming airports each year. The state gives an average of $8.5 million yearly to match federal and/or local funds for airport development.

Among the grant awards announced are the following projects at Wyoming airports: • Johnson County Airport – $429,129 to procure snow removal equipment;

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will award an additional $972 million in Airport Improvement Program 622 grants June 24 and July 5, of which $10.4 million will be awarded to eight airports and to the state of Wyoming. This is in addition to $9.5 million awarded to 10 airports in Wyoming June 5. The grant funding will be administered by the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s Aeronautics Division.

The U.S. transportation infrastructure, with its 3,332 airports and 5,000 paved runways as an essential component, increases the country’s competitiveness and improves the traveling public’s quality of life.

In addition to administering the funding, WYDOT’s Aeronautics Division represents and advocates for projects for local

• North Big Horn County Airport – $149,400 to Improve drainage and install airport beacons; • Dixon Airport – $350,000 to rehabilitate a runway; • Converse County Airport – $600,000 to install NAVAIDS and reconstruct runway lighting; • Jackson Hole Airport – $2,556,642 to rehabilitate an access road;

Photo: WYDOT

• Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport – $5,075,000 to install NAVAIDS and reconstruct a taxiway and taxiway and runway lighting; • Torrington Municipal Airport – $522,000 to rehabilitate a runway; and • The State of Wyoming – $500,000 to update the statewide aviation economic impact study. n August 2019

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Awards

By Carlie Van Winkle Each year, the Wyoming Highway Patrol honors those among their ranks who show exemplary bravery in the line of danger and help citizens who are in need. The Wyoming Highway Patrol Association hosted the annual WHP Strategic Plan Awards banquet June 21 in Cody.

The Luke Schauland Medal of Life was awarded to the following four troopers who, after witnessing serious injury to a citizen, rushed to action with lifesaving measures with skill and urgency.

Trooper Adam Bruning was at a basketball game at the Casper Recreation Center and witnessed a player collapse and stop breathing. With the help of DCI Agent Brad Reinhart, who was there for a different event, Bruning began administering CPR to the downed player. Bruning and Reinhart took turns giving CPR until EMS arrived. The man was rushed to the hospital where he recovered.

Trooper Rick Colling was dispatched to a suicidal driver between Cheyenne and Laramie. Colling located the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. He observed the driver had a pistol in her hand and pulled his own calling for the driver to exit the vehicle.

An Albany County deputy arrived on scene for backup. The driver failed to drop the weapon and pointed it at her own head.

Colling pleaded with her to put the weapon down, she instead pointed it at Colling. To protect his own life, shots were fired at the driver causing her to fall to the ground. Once she was no longer a threat to herself or Colling, he immediately began lifesaving measures. Sgt. Leo Ferguson arrived on scene as Colling was beginning first aid and helped with tourniquets. Colling and Ferguson’s skill and quick thinking controlled the bleeding until she could be air-lifted to the hospital.

Trooper Jason Moller was patrolling US 191 when he responded to a call in Sublette County of a female who had fallen from a horse and was severely injured. The woman had been bucked off her horses and had suffered an open compound fracture of her upper leg. Moller applied a combat tourniquet to her leg to control the life-threatening bleeding.

The Purple Heart Award is presented to any sworn officer who, in any law enforcement activity or emergency response action, on or off duty, sustains serious bodily injury. One trooper was honored with this award – Trooper Austin Bluemel.

Trooper Austin Bluemel was assisting in a vehicle pursuit on US 189 and was maneuvering to perform a tactical vehicle intervention. The vehicle being pursued was running without lights and Bluemel had to steer his vehicle into the barrow ditch to avoid an impact with the rear of the suspect’s vehicle. Bluemel’s patrol vehicle struck a right-of-way access causing it to launch into the air. The vehicle overturned multiple times and came to rest at the bottom of a deep drainage ditch. The unconscious Bluemel was extricated and air-lifted to a hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. Bluemel returned to light-duty work after release from the hospital.

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Photo: Rugged Grace Photography

Bluemel, Bruning, Colling, Ferguson, Moller among those honored at annual WHP banquet

Trooper Austin Bluemel received the Purple Heart Award at this year’s Strategic Plan Awards banquet.

Many other prestigious awards, in addition to the Luke Schauland Medal of Life and the Purple Heart Award, were given to several members of the Highway Patrol.

Other awards given at the banquet were: • Trooper Josh Carris, Combat Cross Award; • Trooper Rick Colling, Combat Cross Award; • Trooper Adam Bruning, Combat Cross Award; Combat Cross Award presented to an officer who actively, primarily and directly is involved in any confrontation with a violent adversary, where shots were fired or direct hand-to-hand combat took place, with or without weapons.

• Darren Phillips, Exemplary Conduct Award; • Sgt. Leo Ferguson, Colonel’s Commendation; • Lt. Clay Barker, Colonel’s Commendation; • Capt. Jim Thomas, Colonel’s Commendation; • Communications Officer Andrew Gardner, Rare Breed Award; • Trooper Adam Powell, Rare Breed Award; • Trooper Tyler Matheney, Rare Breed Award; • Trooper Gabe Testerman, Rare Breed Award; The Rare Breed Award presented to member of WHP who goes above and beyond their normal scope of duties.

• Support Services Section of the Year – Evidence Team; • Port of Entry of the Year – Kemmerer; • Port of Entry Region of the Year – North; • Division of the Year – Division K; • District of the Year – District 1; • David Motsick, Civilian Employee of the Year; • Stephen Kant, Port of Entry Officer of the Year; • Kayla Heitstuman, Dispatcher of the Year; and • Trooper Kent Hutchinson, Trooper of the Year.

Dignitaries from around the state were also on hand to share in the celebration: State Representative Dan Laursen, Powell; State Representative Sandy Newsome, Cody; Cody Mayor Matt Hall; and WYDOT Director Luke Reiner. n

ALS O G

• A list of your critical skills, knowledge and abilities.

• A list of your key weaknesses/development needs.

• A list of your short- and long-term goals.

• An outline of your developmental objectives, what you need to do to reach your goals.

• A list of the strategies you will use to achieve your objectives.

A well thought out IDP has four steps: 1) Identify your professional long and short-term goals Some key questions you might ask yourself are: • What motivates and energizes you at work?

• What opportunities exist within your current role that interest you?

• Where do you see yourself in six months, one year, three years?

• What do you want to learn/prepare for in the future?

2) Do an honest inventory An Individual Development Plan is only as valuable as it is honest. If you don’t know who you are as a leader, manager and employee, you can’t actively plan for your future. If you can, sit down with a manager or mentor to talk about your current skills, knowledge and attributes as well as those functional areas where you need the most improvement.

3) Plan goals with action steps What do you need to do to reach your goals? How can you improve your weaknesses? Most brainstorming sessions never move onto the action step, but this is one of the most valuable elements of the IDP. An IDP takes big picture

IDP TS

A C TIO

ORY ENT

Creating an Individual Development Plan Creating your Individual Development Plan is something you should do with the help of your manager. The goal is to take an honest evaluation of your work, which is best done with an objective viewpoint.

An IDP should contain:

OR

EFF

What is an Individual Development Plan?

Completing the forms in the IDP Guidebook helps you identify and outline your knowledge, skills and abilities that helps you reach both your short- and long-term career goals. This can help you improve your performance, sharpen your professional competencies, and strengthen your weaknesses.

TA RGET

By Rebecca McGee, Training Services Have you thought about your career aspirations? Do you understand your strengths and weaknesses as related to your current or future roles? Do you have a plan for moving forward in your career at WYDOT? If so, an Individual Development Plan (IDP) might be just the ticket.

INV

S

What’s YOUR Plan?

EP

Training

T S N

items and distills them down to simple, easy-to-follow steps for professional development.

For example, if one of your goals is to move up to the next management/executive-level position, you need a plan for how you’ll get there. In that case, one of your objectives might be to request a challenging assignment that will allow you to develop and demonstrate your core competencies.

Remember, IDP’s aren’t only for formal education. Some of the best learning happens through experience and exposure to new opportunities.

4) Target your efforts Get specific. “I want to be a better team leader” is too broad to act on. Go into detail about your leadership development plan by: • setting up monthly, one-hour phone calls with your team, • scheduling regular performance reviews, • attending a leadership development course How will you carry out your Individual Development Plan?

Completion dates, timelines, costs and specific requirements to achieve your plan are important.

Get Going on Your Individual Development Plan Once you have a completed IDP you need to implement it every day and keep track of your progress. The IDP is a “working” document. Stick to your timeline and make corrections as needed.

And remember... work with your manager as you progress through your IDP. It’s their role to help you secure the resources and opportunities you need for career advancement.

WYDOT-U is working to simplify the IDP process and forms to make it more streamlined and easier to complete. Look for our new IDP process on our intranet page soon. In the meantime, our IDP Guidebook can be found in the Resources section of the WELL under WYDOT University. n

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District News

Services-General Ledger – 5 years; Jacque Crawford, Driver Services-Cheyenne – 5 years; Geetha Murugesu, Patrol-Support Services Operations – 5 years; and Katherine Wisdom, Bridge-Engineering Design – 5 years.

Headquarters

Welcome Kristianne Balog, Patrol-Records; David Beals, Highway Development-Project Design; Laura Castaneda, Facilities Management-Custodial; Ann Heath, IT-Administration; Trent Rogers, BridgeHydraulics; Zachary Sage, Cheyenne I-80 Port of Entry; and Jeremy Sumpter, Aeronautics-Flight Birkle Operations.

Bruso

Congratulations

McDowell

Belt

Ayers

Flores

Human Resources welcomes Jo Anderson. Prior to WYDOT, Anderson worked at The Orthopaedic and Spine Center of the Rockies where she was the human resource generalist for six years.

Anderson is the senior HR associate for Patrol, Port of Entry and Anderson District 3.

Retirements Steven Oakley retired on June 1 after working for WYDOT for 14 years. He worked as a field data collection and lab analyst technician in Planning.

He served in the United States Air Force from 1966 to 1970 during the Vietnam War and was honorably discharged.

Quade

Promotions and Transfers Vincent Birkle, Maintenance Staff; Wendy Bruso, Environmental Services; Shane Noonan, Bridge-Engineering Design; William Quade Jr., Patrol-Capitol Services Protection; Kristina Sage, Financial Services-Revenue; Jordan Striff, Employee Safety.

Murugesu

Wisdom

Tina Phillips retired on June 1 after working for WYDOT for nearly 14 years.

She worked as an office support specialist 2 in Highway Development. n

Service Awards Timothy McDowell, Planning-Programming – 40 years; Gareld Daniels, Highway Development-Project Design – 25 years; Jana Belt, Patrol Dispatch – 20 years; Lisa Ayers, Maintenance Staff – 15 years; Anthony Flores, Materials-Surfacing – 15 years; Mattie Bray, Financial

Phillips

District 1 Athena Cook, Cheyenne Construction; Bryce Francois, Driver ServicesLaramie; Ean Marzluf, Cheyenne Traffic-Striping; Madeline Perez, Highway Development-Project Development-Laramie Design Squad; and Caleb Vehige, Highway DevelopmentMillemon Project DevelopmentLaramie Design Squad.

Andrew Millemon, Laramie Maintenance.

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District Equipment Supervisor Dick Demoney presented Laramie mechanic Cody Engle with his certificates after passing his FOS tests.

Photo: WYDOT

Promotions and Transfers Congratulations n

Photo: WYDOT

Welcome

District Equipment Supervisor Dick Demoney presented Cheyenne mechanic Joey Allen with his certificate after passing his certified technician FOS test.

District 2

Welcome Dustin Butcher, Chugwater Maintenance; Bryant Cooley, Torrington Port of Entry; and Virgil Counts, Midwest Maintenance.

Congratulations

engineering position there.

His wife retired late last year and now they’re planning on traveling, camping and fishing with Casper remaining their home-base.

Alyshia “Brooke” Allen was selected as the District 2 resident engineer in Casper.

Allen has been with WYDOT since January 2008, most recently as the project engineer for District 2 Construction Crew 2002. n

Promotions and Transfers Barry Armstrong, Casper Maintenance; and Stephen Thomason, Casper Construction.

Service Awards

Allen

Armstrong

Mark Williams, District 2 Traffic Staff – 30 years.

Photo: WYDOT

Retirements

Get your wheels in the September issue!

Photo: Jeff Goetz

Jack Stone, District 2 resident engineer in Casper, retired on July 10 with 33 years of service to WYDOT. Stone is a 1985 graduate of the University of Wyoming.

After graduating UW, Stone began his career with WYDOT in the Rock Springs office as an engineer. After a few position changes, he relocated to Casper taking an

Congratulations to the Casper shop technicians who passed their FOS test certifications.

From left: Dave Leeling, power trains; Robert Wiginton, administrative procedures and has attained master technician status; and Alan Graves, rigging.

District 3

Welcome

Service Awards

Tim Gallagher, Jackson Maintenance; and Michael Kennedy, Afton Maintenance.

Nicholas Shidner, Jackson Construction – 10 years; Joshua Carris, Rock Springs Patrol – 5 years; Taylor Hanssen, Rock Springs Patrol – 5 years; and John Williams, Rock Springs Patrol – 5 years.

Retirements Shidner

Carris

Hanssen

Williams

Rides

submission deadline:

08/15/19

carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov

Dennis Halpain retired on June 4 from Kemmerer Maintenance with more than 24 years of service to the state.

Halpain is a U.S. Air Force veteran, having served from 1980-84. Following his military duty, he began his career at WYDOT in Kemmerer.

Additionally, Halpain has served in the Minot Air Force Base Fire Department and volunteered his time and talent to the Kemmerer Volunteer Fire Department/ South Lander Fire District. n August 2019

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District 4 Beau Bayne, Sheridan Maintenance; Dianna Williams, Driver Services-Newcastle/Sundance; and Jacob Williamson, Sheridan Construction.

Williams

Sheridan crews participate in parade

Bayne

Williamson

Promotions and Transfers Dana McInerney, Sundance Construction.

parade goers.

“Participating in community events and celebrating with those who we maintain the roads for, while promoting an important message is important to WYDOT and District 4,” said District 4 Public Involvement Specialist Laura Dalles. “Plus, it really is a good time.” n

The Sheridan WYO Parade is an event many in the Sheridan shop look forward to. This year, in conjunction with the local law enforcement increased no tolerance for DUI’s campaign, WYDOT participated in the parade with targeted messaging on the dynamic message board on the back end of the striper. “Don’t get plowed … or you’ll end up in stripes.” In addition, two banners with the message “Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving,” and “Designated drivers save lives, choose yours now!” blanketed both sides of the snow plow.

The very popular V-plow, known as the “Shark,” made its annual appearance and led the way through the parade route.

District Engineer Scott Taylor and staff from the guardrail and striping crews, armed with water guns made sure the crowd stayed cool, while candy and OtterPops were handed out to enthusiastic

Photo: WYDOT

Welcome

District 4 Sheridan crew with their family members at the WYO Parade in July.

District 5

Welcome Lloyd Walnofer, Ten Sleep Maintenance; and Kenneth Wright, Basin Maintenance.

McInerney

WTDEA The derby started out cold and wet, but as the day went on the weather got better.

The following winners prove that when you stick it out, it is worth it.

First place went to Carson James from Headquarters with a 5.11 pound walleye; second place went to Darren Allbright from Wheatland with a 4.2 pound catch; Zack Calaway from Cheyenne snagged third place with his 4 pound walleye; fourth place to Travis Jones of Cheyenne for catching a 3.4 pounder; and last but not least, Curtis Olsen of Headquarters snagged fifth place with his catch of 3.1 pounds.

WTDEA member Mike Calaway and representative Vickie Hintze thank WDTEA for their generous donation that they give every year for the door prizes.

Thanks also go out to Timothy Francois of Sportman’s Warehouse for the two $25 gift cards and to all the participants who make the derby a huge success.

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Photo: WYDOT

Headquarters annual fishing derby once again a huge success

Winners from left: Curtis Olsen, Travis Jones, Zack Calaway, Darren Allbright and Carson James.

Raffle winners announced The District 4 WTDEA chapter held a gun raffle to benefit their scholarship fund to support employees and their dependents in the pursuit of higher education.

Tickets sold for $10 and each ticket entered the purchaser into the drawing for a Ruger American Predator Creedmoor Bolt Action Rifle with a custom made rifle sling made by Harvey Johnson.

The winner of the rifle and sling was Jim Simpson.

Likewise, Headquarters chapter held a raffle to benefit the general fund. The raffle was for a 24-long gun Winchester gun safe.

The winner of the gun safe was Cara Moore in WHP Dispatch. n

Total number of employees: As of June 26, 2019

1,944

One month ago

1,950

One year ago

1,925

Passings Mel Anderson Melvin “Mel” Anderson, 78, of Cheyenne, died on July 15. Anderson was born on Oct. 8, 1942, in Fullerton, California.

Anderson retired from the Strategic Performance Improvement Program at headquarters in January 2016, after nearly 14 years of service Anderson with WYDOT. He joined the agency in April 2002 as a quality and customer service consultant and just prior to retirement worked as a performance analyst helping to set the direction of WYDOT through the facilitation of strategic planning.

Anderson moved to Wyoming from his native California, where he worked as a marketing director with a financial services firm and as a human resources consultant and manager with transporta-

WHP Total number of highway fatalities: As of July 8, 2019

tion and health-care organizations.

Prior to beginning his professional career, he served in the U.S. Army from 1962-1965 in an artillery unit in Germany.

He earned a master’s degree in human resources and organization development from the University of San Francisco and taught management courses at the University of California at Berkeley.

There were no services held at his request.

Timothy Aschoff Tim J. Aschoff, 46, of Rock Springs, died June 25 at his home. He was a lifelong resident of Rock Springs.

Aschoff was born on Dec. 31, 1972, in Hayward, California.

He attended schools in Rock Springs and was a graduate of the Inde- Aschoff

WTDEA

State Board Photography Contest

pendence High School with the class of 1991.

Aschoff worked for WYDOT in the Rock Springs Traffic office.

His interests included his cats and snake. He loved going camping and anything in the great outdoors.

A celebration of life was held July 1 at the Vase Funeral Chapel in Rock Springs.

Michael Madlen Michael F. Madlen, 84, of Cheyenne passed away July 24 in Cheyenne. He was born May 17, 1935, in South Bend, Indiana.

Madlen’s career brought him to WYDOT where he was a photogrammetric engineer and retired with 28 years Madlen of service the state.

Madlen was a veteran, having served a tour of duty in the U.S. Navy.

He was an avid photographer, artist, rock and fossil hunter, weaver, reader and loved small children and pets. n

WTDEA State Board is seeking submissions for the 8th annual WTDEA Photography Contest –

Wyoming!

The 12 winning photographs will be displayed in the 2020 WTDEA Cash Calendar. The contest and online voting is open to all active WYDOT employees. Your “Wyoming!” photos must be taken in Wyoming. Winners will receive a 2020 WTDEA Cash Calendar featuring a $100 monthy bonus drawing.

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Give us your BEST SHOT! Sale of this calendar to benefit

One year ago

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the WYDOT Relief Fund.

Submit your “Wyoming!” photos to DOT-WTDEA-Stateboard@wyo.gov

Deadline for submissions is August 9, 2019. Voting will be open from August 26-30, 2019.

August 2019

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Interchange

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Any WyHy checking account now comes with the feature to RoundUP each of your debit card transactions to the next dollar with the amount then automatically placed into a WyHy FastTrac Savings account the next day!* Here’s how it works in just 2 easy steps

1. Call, email or stop by a branch to request the RoundUP feature to be added to your WyHy checking account

2. Watch your savings

grow with each debit card transaction as you earn 1.85% APY in your FastTrac Savings account!*

RoundUP your checking today!

CHEYENNE 1715 Stillwater Avenue Cheyenne, WY 82009

CASPER 1521 Centennial Court Casper, WY 82609

WyHy.org/HomeLoans | (800) 442-2392 *APY = Annual Percentage Yield. Earnings of 1.85% APY are on balances up to $10,000.00 with earnings of 0.05% APY on balances $10,000.01 and above. Visit WyHy.org/RoundUP or contact the Credit Union for full details. Insured by NCUA.

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Interchange

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August 2019

Break Time Take five and find the five differences in the photos on the right.

Answer to the July 2019 Break Time sudoku puzzle:

Interchange subscription issue? Update your address:

1) Complete and return this slip to WYDOT Public Affairs Office, 5300 Bishop Blvd., Cheyenne, WY 82009, or 2) Send an email to Carlie Van Winkle at carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov.

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August 2019

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Interchange

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Interchange

Wyoming Department of Transportation 5300 Bishop Blvd.

Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009-3340 Address Service Requested

Pre-sorted Standard U.S. Postage Paid Cheyenne, WY 82009 Permit No. 24