US 26/287 chip sealing on

Togwotee Pass

DUBOIS – A Wyoming Department of Transportation chip sealing crew is scheduled for summer work on US Highway 26/287 on Togwotee Pass beginning Monday, July 17.

US 26/287 chip sealing was underway July 17-31 between mileposts 7.5 (7.5 miles east of Moran Junction) and 26.75 (Fremont-Teton county line). Continuing on through August, the WYDOT maintenance effort will remain on US 26/287 between mileposts 45 (10 miles west of Dubois) and 49.

Chip sealing work was swept at the end of each day. Drivers were asked to slow down in these areas in order to prevent windshield damage.

Chip sealing underway west of Riverton

RIVERTON – The chip sealing of a $5.85 million pavement improvement project began July 13 on US Highway 26 between Riverton and Pilot Butte Reservoir west of Riverton.

The pavement improvement project included asphalt pavement surfacing, milling, chip sealing, drainage and other work on 12.1 miles of US 26 between mileposts 125.11 (Eight Mile Road) and 112.98 (just east of Pilot Butte Reservoir).

Prime contractor on the project is Mountain Construction Co., of Lovell.

The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded the bid to Mountain Construction Co., in March. Contract completion date was Oct. 31, 2022.

Dry Piney Wildlife Crossing

By WYDOT District 3, Kemmerer

The Dry Piney Wildlife Crossing project was let on July 8, 2021 to McMillen Inc., of Boise, Idaho, for a total cost of $13.7 million, with a contract completion date of Oct. 31, 2023.

The original scope of the project included 176,500 feet (33.4 miles) of 8-foot tall deer fence, eight underpass structures, 1.85 miles of roadway reconstruction and other miscellaneous work. Due to the competitive bidding on the project and availability of funds, a change order was executed in February 2022 to add a ninth underpass and $1.4 million to the project.

2023 Progress

During the first construction season, six of the nine underpass locations were completed and open to unrestricted traffic. The remaining three box culverts are under construction. Approximately 16,000 feet of deer fence has been paid for in 2023 with another 27,000 feet in various degrees of completion. The bulk of the 48 new cattle guards are installed and ready to be fenced.

Spring start up

Work began on May 1 building three detours at the last three underpass locations. Quickly thereafter, the box locations were excavated and the pre-cast components of all three boxes were placed.

Fencing began on May 1 as well, beginning where the fence completed last fall – just south of Box No. 7 and heading south.

Rough Spring Weather

As the long winter loosened its grip on south Sublette County the weather didn’t really improve much as “spring” arrived. Days and days of rain, week after week, kept the ground soft and delayed the crews while lightning storms passed by. Water pumps kept the excavations dry between storms, so very little work time was lost.