Vital parts of life in small-town Wyoming
By Cody Beers
When you ask coworkers questions, expect a mixed bag of responses, especially in Wyoming Department of Transportation’s District 5.
As the most rural district at WYDOT, the challenges D5 faces are different. It’s important to listen to all types of voices and not treat every community the same. But our informal survey also showed the values we all share, including hard work, safety and service.
Do you enjoy plowing snow?
• “Some days, depending on the season, and if we can keep the equipment running.”
• “I like plowing snow because I like solitude in the truck.”
• “Yes.”
What keeps you at WYDOT?
• “Retirement, benefits, time off.”
• “Health insurance. I enjoy most of what I have to do. I do something different almost every day.”
• “People and retirement.”
“Work we do directly impacts our families, friends and neighbors –helping them get where they need to go safely.”
• “I absolutely love plowing snow. You can literally see the results of your effort in real time.”
D5 workers are more than willing to help where it’s needed, but also find priceless value in work-life balance. That’s because these employees go above and beyond in their service to their communities -- it’s not just work, it’s a lifestyle. It’s common in D5’s small towns for WYDOT workers to be coaches, members of a town council, or the go-to person for information about slick roads, construction delays and other pressing issues of the day.
Maintenance crews maintain 1,363 miles of roadway in District 5. Crews are stationed in Basin, Cody, Dubois, Lander, Lovell, Meeteetse, Riverton, Shoshoni, South Pass, Ten Sleep, Thermopolis and Worland. Besides
Maintenance mowing was underway in August and September all across District 5. This photograph was shot north of Meeteetse along Wyoming Highway 120.
Photo: Cody Beers/WYDOT
December 2025 Vol. 53, Issue 12
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
WYDOT Director
Darin J. Westby, P.E.
Public Affairs Manager
Doug McGee
Editor
Carlie Dakins
Contributors
Megan Arias Public Affairs
Carlie Dakins Public Affairs
Mark Horan Public Affairs
Jordan Young Public Affairs
Jaxon Penfield 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.
District 5 continued from front cover normal snow control, mowing, hot-mix asphalt patching, trash picking, fence repairs and chip sealing are the major maintenance duties.
Construction crews oversee construction and repaving of roads, rehabilitation and reconstruction of bridges, flattening of slopes and upgrading of guardrail for safety reasons, and plan and conduct field work for future projects from their offices in Basin, Cody, Lander, Riverton and Thermopolis.
Traffic crews stripe highways in towns and in rural areas and are stationed in Basin and Lander. Crews from Basin also repair and maintain traffic signals, install and upgrade signs, and conduct and oversee studies on future developments in their communities.
Mechanics crews attempt to keep all equipment maintained and operational, all while encountering the rising costs of parts and continually training on new technology, among other duties, from shops in Basin, Cody, Dubois, Lander and Thermopolis.
Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers and Driver Services offices maintain highway safety and compliance across the entire district, and Port of Entry workers in Deaver enhance safety by enforcing commercial vehicle regulations at the Wyoming-Montana border.
These are all big jobs, with safety on the mind as the No. 1 priority of all workers.
Informal, typical conversations, prior to winter, are important, as the answers gauge employee burnout, commitment and the department’s family-friendly nature in relation to the darkest and coldest time of the year.
What does WYDOT mean to you?
• “It’s a steady job.”
• “WYDOT is family oriented.”
• “Stability.”
• “Flexibility, which has allowed me to find a healthy work-life balance when the weather cooperates. The Department has always supported me in finding time to be with my family when things slow down.”
What’s your favorite thing about WYDOT?
• “The people I work with.”
• “Plowing and striping.”
• “No two days are ever the same. Constant change keeps the job interesting.”
To Yellowstone
A monument, including the proverb “All roads lead to Rome,” was erected during the time of Emperor Augustus (20 B.C.E.). The monument was placed in the Roman Forum, marking the starting point of all Roman Empire roads.
It’s the roads and bridges throughout Wyoming Department of Transportation District 5 that connect communities – from Lander to Lovell, from Dubois to Ten Sleep, from Cody to Worland, and from Lander to Thermopolis, among others – and collect traffic on their way to Yellowstone.
More than 110 years ago, a similar thought took hold in North America. It didn’t come from an emperor’s decree, but instead it came from the popularity of Yellowstone National Park.
Like it is marketed today, a group organized to promote the original Yellowstone
District 5 continued on page 4
Tourists were moving past paving operations this summer on Wyoming Highway 296 (Chief Joseph Scenic Highway) between Yellowstone’s Northeast Entrance and Cody.
Photo: Cody Beers/WYDOT
District 5 continued from page 3
Highway. The new road began in Denver, passed near a new Rocky Mountain National Park, and wound its way through Wyoming and to our country’s first national park. Businesses promoted this new highway.
Yellowstone remains the country’s most popular national park in 2025, and the roads and bridges which carry visitors to Wyoming’s northwest corner show the wear and tear.
Through August, the first U.S. national park hosted a near record 3,547,967 visitors through 2025, and visitor traffic in the postCOVID era remains high well into October.
Every Yellowstone entrance is busy, and especially the three entrances readily accessed in northwest Wyoming.
US Highway 26/89/191 and US Highway 26/287 connect the world to Yellowstone’s
South Entrance, north of Jackson and west of Dubois. US 14/16/20 connects Cody to the East Entrance. Wyoming Highway 296 and US Highway 212 connect to Yellowstone’s Northeast Entrance.
It’s the roads and bridges throughout Wyoming Department of Transportation District 5 that connect communities –from Lander to Lovell, from Dubois to Ten Sleep, from Cody to Worland, and from Lander to Thermopolis, among others – and collect traffic on their way to Yellowstone.
These well-maintained road networks help businesses by reducing transportation costs and ensuring timely delivery of
products; helping citizens access essential services, such as healthcare, education, emergency assistance; making it possible for people to commute, and enabling
Steel work complete, bridge deck about to be poured on Broadway Street in Thermopolis. The Bighorn River bridge links the communities of East Thermopolis and Thermopolis.
Photo: Cody Beers/WYDOT
Moving dirt this summer on the $6 million pavement improvement project west of Dubois on 5.2 miles of US 26/287.
Photo: Cody Beers/WYDOT
trade and commerce.
The business of transportation is a big one in Wyoming, falling on the shoulders of WYDOT and federal funding to facilitate commerce and deliver safe, efficient and quality transportation to Wyoming citizens and its visitors.
Wind River Canyon resiliency
A major pinch point for transportation in District 5 is US 20/Wyoming Highway 789 through Wind River Canyon. An extended closure due to Memorial Day weekend mud slides and floods in 2015, including increasing traffic numbers in the summer and throughout the year, have highlighted the need for transportation resiliency.
WYDOT, tribal leaders and local communities celebrated the 100th anniversary of the highway through Wind River Canyon in 2024. At the same time, WYDOT applied for and received a $1.62 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Reservoir bank stabilization work continued in September along the west shoreline of Buffalo Bill Reservoir and adjacent to US 14/16/20 west of Cody. Work began in the spring, shut down over the summer to accommodate summer traffic to Yellowstone’s East Gate, and restarted after Labor Day.
“We think the alternative route is worth exploring,” said WYDOT Director Darin Westby in 2024. “This one canyon thoroughfare has thousands of livelihoods, families, businesses and tourists depending on it every day. No matter what the study recommends, the knowledge gained will help us better mitigate future challenges.”
The study is addressing risks, such as rockfall, landslides, severe weather and crashes, to enhance resiliency of the canyon corridor, and to potentially design an alternate transportation route either west or east of Boysen Reservoir.
The study’s goal is to create a more dependable highway for central Wyoming, and to improve transportation through the area and keeping communities viable on both sides of the Owl Creek Mountains and at both ends of Wind River Canyon.
“WYDOT is actively seeking ways to continue to invest in Wyoming’s infrastructure,” Westby said.
Partners in the study include the Wind River Reservation Tribes, private businesses, Fremont and Hot Springs counties, and the towns of Thermopolis and Shoshoni.
A major study milestone happened in November when the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho granted WYDOT and its consultant access to tribal lands west of Boysen Reservoir. This rare access to Wind River Reservation lands will allow investigation of three current routes for a possible future alternative route across reservation lands.
The study, with estimated costs to be about $1.8 million, will continue through 2026.
The future
For some workers, retirement is near. For others, retirement may not even be a thought.
But the highways and bridges are still there needing attention – inspections, enforcement, repairs, construction, stripes, and signs and other work. From a nationwide perspective, convenient transportation is necessary to facilitate growth in the wide-open spaces of the Cowboy State.
There are a lot of uncertainties in the future of transportation, from technology advancements to community growth. As the transportation backbone in the northwest corner of the state, D5 is ready to meet those challenges while maintaining their small town roots.
District 5 workers will continue being involved in their communities, and workers will be encouraged to find work-life balance and happiness. Demands will undoubtedly grow on the workforce, expectations will change, and the D5 roads will remain lonely and quiet, and without interstate highways, during this darkest time of the year.
District Construction Engineer Randy Merritt was burning burgers and brats at the annual employee appreciation picnic in Basin in September.
Photo: Cody Beers/WYDOT
Photo: Cody Beers/WYDOT
District Briefs
Headquarters
Commission awards six highway contracts in November
CHEYENNE — At its November regular business meeting, the Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded six contracts valued at approximately $24.3 million for Wyoming Department of Transportation construction projects.
The Commission awarded a bid valued at approximately $14.5 million to Worland-based McGarvin-Moberly Construction Co. for a mill and overlay project involving placing asphalt pavement and wearing course, applying bridge deck membrane, and installing fence and temporary guardrail, along with placing temporary traffic control measures on approximately 9.80 miles of eastbound and westbound lanes on Interstate 90 beginning at mile marker 168.31 between Moorcroft and Sundance in Crook County. The contract completion date is Oct. 31, 2027.
The Commission awarded a bid valued at approximately $3.1 million to Cheyenne-based JTL Group Inc., DBA Knife River, for a mill and overlay project involving placing asphalt pavement and applying wearing course, placing temporary traffic control measures, and milling plant mix on Grand Avenue in the City of Laramie beginning at mm 329.47 for approximately 2.73 miles. The contract completion date is Oct. 31, 2026.
The Commission awarded a bid valued at approximately $2 million to Gillette-based S & S Builders LLC for a bridge replacement project involving placing precast box culverts, asphalt pavement, road base, temporary traffic control measures, structural concrete, and removing one concrete bridge at mm 313.89 on US Highway 30/287 between Bosler and Laramie in Albany County. The contract completion date is Oct. 31, 2026.
The Commission awarded a bid valued at approximately $625,000 to Rock Springs-based DeBernardi Construction Company Inc. for a concrete slab replacement project involving replacing and repairing concrete slabs and placing
temporary traffic control measures at various locations in Sweetwater County. The contract completion date is Oct. 31, 2026.
All the above projects are funded primarily with federal dollars.
Funded primarily with state dollars, the Commission awarded a bid valued at approximately $3.2 million to S & S Builders for a bridge replacement project involving erecting and installing steel, placing concrete and road base, machine placing riprap, laying asphalt pavement, performing excavation, placing temporary traffic control measures, and removing one steel bridge at mm 3.29 at the Bridge over Chugwater Creek on Wyoming Highway 314 in Platte County. The contract complete date is Nov. 30, 2026.
Also funded primarily with state dollars, the Commission awarded a bid valued at approximately $834,500 to Cowley-based Wilson Bros. Construction Inc. for a culvert cleaning and lining project involving cleaning culverts, lining pipe, placing temporary traffic control, backhoe work, placing grout, and placing erosion control measures at various locations in Crook, Johnson and Sheridan Counties. The contract completion date is Oct. 31, 2026.
Almost all WYDOT projects are awarded to the lowest bid.
Wyoming airports largely unaffected by FAA-mandated
airline reduction ahead of busy holiday season
CHEYENNE — Despite national headlines and a temporary 6 percent reduction in flight capacity ordered by the Federal Aviation Administration at several of the nation’s busiest airports, Wyoming’s commercial air service has remained largely stable. Travelers can confidently book flights to and from Wyoming as federal operations are returning to normal during the government’s reopening process.
While Denver International Airport –Wyoming’s primary connecting hub for the vast majority of the state’s commercial flights – was among the airports named
in the FAA’s original 10 percent reduction plan, impacts to Wyoming airports have been significantly lower than expected. This stability is due in part to the strong working relationship between Wyoming airports, WYDOT, and airline partners such as SkyWest and United Airlines.
“Casper and Jackson have seen occasional single mid-day cancellations since the FAA’s announcement, but most other Wyoming airports have seen zero cancellations, including those operating under the state’s Capacity Purchase Agreement,” said Mariah Johnson, Air Service Development program manager for WYDOT. “Given the national environment, this is a testament to the coordination and commitment of our airline partners to Wyoming. Regional carriers like SkyWest, who operate the bulk of Wyoming’s United Express service, are usually disproportionately affected by system-wide cancellations. This time, flights to Wyoming have been incredibly reliable.”
As the federal government continues to resume normal operations, Wyoming travelers should expect regular schedules to remain intact ahead of the busy holiday season, weather permitting. Across the state, Wyoming airports are scheduled to offer the highest level of airline seat capacity ever during the holiday period, with more than 282,000 seats available across November and December.
“2024 was a record year for Wyoming air travel, and 2025 is shaping up to be even better,” Johnson added.
District 3
Fish Creek bridge update
JACKSON — The Wyoming Department of Transportation and contract crews from Reiman Corp completed work on the Fish Creek Bridge on Wyoming Highway 22 near Wilson (Nov. 14) and the bridge was opened. Crews removed the detour through Wilson and ask that drivers remain cautious of crews and equipment in the area and on the shoulder of the road.
“We really want to thank the residents of Wilson, the school district, and commuters who come through the area for their patience while we did this work. And also, to our crews and contractors
for getting the work done so quickly,” WYDOT Resident Engineer Bob Hammond said.
Crews milled off roughly 300 tons of old asphalt from the bridge deck and regraded the approaches to the bridge.
“The driving surface of the bridge will be lower by 6 to 8 inches, that’s why we have to remove material and regrade the roadway,” Hammond said.
Crews were able to complete the work on the road base for the bridge. Paving operations lasted roughly two days. Once paving operations were complete, crews opened the bridge to traffic.
The scope of the second phase of work for this project involved milling and full removal of asphalt, as well as base and some additional material, placing new base material, and repaving the new grade near the town of Wilson on WYO 22 at road marker 5.40 at the Fish Creek Bridge. The completion date for the work was Nov. 15, 2025.
The Fish Creek bridge, in Wilson, was repaired with the help of an emergency contract valued at $768,000.
The Wyoming Department of Transportation Commission awarded the emergency contract valued at approximately $768,000 for the repairs of the Fish Creek bridge structure in Wilson to Reiman Corp, of Cheyenne. The work was awarded in a special meeting via Zoom on Oct. 1. The structure was scheduled for repairs in WYDOT’s State Transportation Improvement Plan in 2028, but earlier this year, WYDOT identified some damage to the cap structure on the bridge during a routine inspection. Although there is no danger of failure, WYDOT had concerns with the bridge’s ability to safely support larger vehicles like snowplows without further damage. To safely support heavier traffic, WYDOT proposed an emergency contract to make immediate repairs to the bridge. WYDOT is currently working on plans to replace the structure as soon as
the design work and National Environmental Policy Act process are completed, which should be in two to three years.
Westbound I-80 traffic briefly detoured through Green River
GREEN RIVER — The Wyoming Department of Transportation detoured the westbound Interstate 80 traffic through the town of Green River Nov. 6, beginning at 9 a.m., to survey and take measurements on the recently installed lighting inside the westbound tunnel. The information gathered will be used to evaluate the current speed limit and determine if the speed limit can safely be raised throughout the winter. The work took roughly a couple hours and crews had the work completed by 11 a.m. that day.
Eastbound traffic continued to use the eastbound tunnel while the work was underway.
“We will be working with our consultant, as well as the Wyoming Highway Patrol to review the lighting in the westbound tunnel and see if it’s feasible to safely increase the speed limit,” WYDOT Resident Engineer Clint Lockman said. 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
Teton Pass guardrail repair impacted traffic
JACKSON — The Wyoming Department of Transportation repaired damaged guardrail sections of Wyoming Highway 22/Teton Pass Nov. 3. The work lasted two days. Crews repaired guardrail at mile
marker 11 near the truck brake check area and mile marker 14 near the Coal Creek Trailhead.
Crews worked during the daytime hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. While work was underway, traffic was limited to a single lane, controlled by flagging operations. Drivers were advised to expect delays and plan their travels accordingly.
The guardrail work concluded before the start of the Fish Creek bridge closure and detour in Wilson which was delayed until Nov. 5.
Green River on-ramp closed for bridge work
GREEN RIVER — The Wyoming Department of Transportation and contract crews from DeBernardi Construction closed the eastbound on-ramp on the west end of Green River at exit 89 for bridge rehabilitation work Nov. 3.
The work took place on the Interstate 80 bridge over Wild Horse Canyon Road near the Hampton Inn. Crews made concrete deck repairs, with the work lasting two weeks.
“The original plan was to do this work next spring, but the condition of the bridge deck necessitated earlier intervention, so we are getting it done as quickly as possible and before the worst of winter hits,” WYDOT Resident Engineer Clint Lockman said.
The existing lane closure in the area remained in place for the work on the bridge, with reduced speeds and a single lane of travel beginning at exit 89.
District 4
I-90 Beulah bridge opened to traffic
SUNDANCE — The Wyoming Department of Transportation completed inspections of the damaged westbound overpass on Interstate 90 near the town of Beulah, Wyoming. The overpass was struck by an oversized load on Oct. 15, resulting in the closing of the bridge.
WYDOT bridge inspectors spent two days evaluating and assessing the damage and determined the bridge was stable and was opened to traffic with controlled access.
Traffic control includes a single, 14-
Photo: Stephanie Harsha/WYDOT
The Green River westbound tunnel with new lighting.
Photo: Stephanie Harsha/WYDOT
foot lane of travel with signaling at both ends of the bridge. The signal was set on a 2-minute cycle and will remain in place until repairs are completed. The speed limit will be posted at 20 mph.
WYDOT will begin working on engineering plans to repair the damage and will put the project out for bid. Repairs will begin once a contract is awarded.
The Beulah Bridge, located at exit 105, on Interstate 90 was reopened to a single lane of traffic with a traffic signal. The bridge was closed in October when an oversized load struck the underside causing damage.
Passings
Leonard P. “Scoop” McGuire Jr.
Leonard P. “Scoop” McGuire, Jr., 86, passed away at Davis Hospice in Cheyenne, Wyoming, on Feb. 4, 2022.
McGuire was born in Bassett, Nebraska, Sept. 13,1935. He graduated from Wheatland High School in 1954 and attended Auctioneering School, which was his beloved second job. He married Selma Montgomery and together they had three children.
McGuire was hired by the old Wyoming Highway Department, WYDOT’s predecessor agency, in September 1960 as a highway construction engineer. He had 35 years of service to the state in September 1992, where at the time he worked as a construction engineer in Torrington. He retired with more than 35 years of service in June 1993.
At the same time as his employment with the state, he also helped run a hog farm with his father, served as president of the Wyoming Public Employees Association, and served 12 years in the Army National Guard.
After his 35-year career with the Highway Department, he retired to several part-time occupations working as a chuckwagon cook on an Oregon Trail reenactment, driving a school bus and driving a beet truck.
Scoop loved his Irish heritage and was the life of the party. He enjoyed camping, fishing, boating, the “goose-hunt,” woodworking and was an avid reader up until his move to hospice.
WHP
Total number of employees: As of November 1, 2025
1,834 One month ago 1,840 One year ago 1,817
Total number of highway fatalities: As of November 1, 2025 97 One year ago 93
McGuire
Photo: Laura Dalles/WYDOT
Crystal Gullickson named Wyoming IDEC Examiner of the Year
By Jordan Young
This fall, Crystal Gullickson was named Wyoming’s 2024 Examiner of the Year by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators International Driver Examiner Certification Board. Gullickson is a driver license exam station supervisor at the Cody and Lovell exam stations.
Gullickson said it was a huge honor to be recognized by AAMVA and her supervisors within Driver Services.
“I was shocked honestly,” she said. “I just do my best and try to help where I can, so I wasn’t expecting this nomination at all.”
The AAMVA IDEC Board recognizes outstanding examiners in each member state through the Examiner of the Year award. States and territories within each member jurisdiction nominate one examiner for outstanding performance as a driver’s license examiner.
In her nomination form, Driver Services Program Manager Misty Zimmerman noted that when Gullickson started with the agency, she had to learn not just her supervisory duties but examiner responsibilities as well. Gullickson met those demands and has continued to exceed expectations in the growing communities she serves.
“Thousands of driver and identification card holders transfer into her locations annually,” Zimmerman added. “Her friendly, outgoing demeanor and operational knowledge are strengths that she is consistently praised for.”
Gullickson’s supervisor, Carla Hirschfield, echoed those remarks in her portion of the nomination letter. She said Gullickson’s created a warm and welcoming atmosphere with her integrity, diligence, reliability, accuracy, and open and honest attitude.
“She treats everyone with respect and aims to make all who come into her office feel that they have been helped, even if she was unable to give them exactly what they wanted,” Hirschfield said in the letter.
To qualify, Gullickson had to be IDEC-certified for a minimum of one year. Selection criteria also considers the person’s
excellence in adhering to the Examiner’s Code of Ethics, as well as demonstrating outstanding performance as a driver’s license examiner through integrity, professionalism, and treating customers equitably and respectfully.
While Gullickson admitted some days in such a public-facing position are tougher than others, it’s the group of trusted people around her who “make this job worth its weight in gold.”
She’s been with the department seven years, but still feels like a brand-new employee sometimes, especially as laws change or with big program changes, like the agency’s recent software modernization project.
“I think that’s one of the reasons this job keeps me going –every day is completely different,” she said.
In her spare time, Gullickson loves to travel and scuba dive. She has dived in locations like Fiji, Mexico and Granada. She also values her family, especially her nieces and nephews.
“It’s been proven over and over to me that life is short; we have to love what we do,” she said.
This isn’t the first time a WYDOT examiner has been praised for their excellence. Previous WYDOT winners of the IDEC Examiner of the Year award include:
• Debra Cain, Torrington and Lusk supervisor – 2023
• Mikaela Smith, Cheyenne examiner – 2022
• Laura Whalen-Steege, Cheyenne supervisor – 2021
• David Reid, regional supervisor – 2019
• Luz Craig, Gillette supervisor – 2018
• Janet Hood, Kemmerer/Pinedale/Big Piney supervisor – 2016 (Hood was awarded 2016 Outstanding IDEC Examiner of the Year, the top spot among that year’s Examiners of the Year.)
• Karmen Warrington, Rawlins/Baggs examiner – 2015
In her spare time, Gullickson enjoys traveling around the world and has gone scuba diving in locations like Fiji and Honduras.
Photo: Crystal Gullickson
Crystal Gullickson was named Wyoming’s 2024 Examiner of the Year by the AAMVA International Driver Examiner Certification Board.
Photo: Crystal Gullickson
WYDOT receives prestigious AASHTO award for slide repair work on Teton Pass
SALT LAKE CITY — The Wyoming Department of Transportation was one of 12 state transportation departments that were honored at the 2025 American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City on Nov. 19.
Winners were celebrated for their outstanding contributions to the transportation field and communities they serve. WYDOT received a President’s Transportation Award, which is presented to teams or individuals whose exemplary work aligned with AASHTO’s vision, mission, and goals/objectives as outlined in the association’s strategic plan. WYDOT was recognized for its response to the Big Fill Slide on Wyoming Highway 22/Teton Pass.
Teton Pass suffered a critical failure at milepost 12.8 the weekend of June 8, 2024, which was nicknamed “The Big Fill Slide.” The slide forced thousands of commuters to take a 85-mile alternative route through Star Valley, Wyoming, which put a strain on the local economy and the citizens WYDOT serves. Through the hard work and dedication of WYDOT employees, the essential highway reopened with a temporary detour near the slide site just three weeks later, and the permanent fix for the highway was completed in July of 2025. WYDOT also used an alternative construction contracting method for the first time with this project, working closely with Evans Construction to design and build
the temporary detour and Ames Construction on the larger, permanent landslide mitigation and roadway reconstruction project.
District 3 Construction Engineer Pete Stinchcomb (left) and Jackson Resident Engineer Bob Hammond with the AASHTO President’s Transportation Award awarded to WYDOT in November for the agency’s work on Teton Pass last year.
Several WYDOT employees, including District 3 Engineer John Eddins, District 3 Construction Engineer Peter Stinchcomb, District 3 Public Relations Specialist Stephanie Harsha, Jackson Resident Engineer Bob Hammond, State Traffic Engineer Christina Spindler and Chief Engineering Geologist James Dahill accepted the award at the AASHTO awards luncheon on behalf of the larger team that was committed to getting WYO 22 traffic moving again.
(From left) WYDOT District 3 Public Involvement Specialist Stephanie Harsha, District 3 Construction Engineer Pete Stinchcomb, State Traffic Engineer Christina Spindler, Chief Engineering Geologist James Dahill, Director Darin Westby, Resident Engineer Bob Hammond, Chief Engineer Keith Fulton and District Engineer John Eddins accept the AASHTO President’s Transportation Award in Salt Lake in November.
Photo: WYDOT
Photo: WYDOT
The smooth arrival: how to guarantee a great first impression
Let visitors know where to meet and who to call
By Mark Horan
Every off-site visitor represents an important opportunity, whether it’s a potential new hire, a key stakeholder, or an industry partner. While securing the meeting is often the hardest part, ensuring a smooth arrival and a positive first few minutes is entirely within our control. Unfortunately, a misplaced meeting room or a lost visitor can derail the start of even the most critical discussion.
A visitor who is searching for a location or struggling to reach their host arrives at the meeting stressed and potentially late. This is an entirely avoidable issue. By spending an extra minute clarifying the meeting details, we eliminate visitor anxiety and allow them to focus solely on the business at hand.
A successful meeting starts with a successful arrival. Use these guidelines for every external visitor invitation: Pinpoint the location – where to go Don’t just list the main office address. Provide precise, step-by-step navigation.
• Specify the building name, location and entrance to use. (e.g., “Use the East Entrance near the flagpole”).
• Include the full room name in the location field of the invite (e.g., “Training Services Building, main floor I-80 room).
• Provide a quick visual cue, such as, “Our office is across the hall from the men’s restroom.”
Provide a reliable contact –who to call
A lost visitor needs an immediate voice connection to the host, not an email address or a general reception line.
Get specific!
• Include the host’s direct mobile or desk number in the body of the invitation.
• Always specify your full name (and title) next to the contact number so the visitor knows exactly who to ask for at the reception desk.
• If you anticipate being unreachable right before the meeting, designate a team member and provide their name and contact number as a secondary point of contact.
• Send a quick email the day before the meeting that re-iterates the key arrival details (time, location, and your cell number).
• Consider meeting your guest(s) in a general location and taking them to the specific meeting location, especially if the meeting location is within a locked building.
Making a great impression is often about nailing the fundamentals. A few extra moments of preparation ensures a professional, welcoming experience for our guests. Let’s make sure our visitors start strong, so we can end successfully.
Finding a specific location on a campus with multiple buildings can be tricky if visitors only have a general address to go off.
For example, if someone only has 5300 Bishop Blvd. for the Cheyenne WYDOT address, that will get them to Headquarters. But what if they need to go to a specific building such as Motor Vehicle Services or the Materials Lab?
One solution that works well is to provide potential visitors with a simple PDF or link to a map highlighting a specific campus location, visitor parking and building entrance to the invitation. Colored arrows or circles can be added with a few simple image edits.
We offer maps on our website at https://www.dot.state. wy.us/home/travel/travel_maps.html
District News
Headquarters
New Hires
Tessa Bechtold, Procurement Services-Storeroom; Robert Bullock, Motor Vehicle Services-Plate Production; Mason Linger, Bridge-Engineering Design; and Katlan Schaich, PatrolRecords.
Promotions and Transfers
Tinsley Brownlow, Patrol-Support Services; Peter Higgins, GIS/ITS; Matthew Hooten, Geology; Michael Killion, Geology; Rebecca McOmie, GIS/ITS; Brandi Miller, Planning-Local Government Coordination; Kameron Stroup, Bridge-Engineering Design; Wade Weaver, Planning-Counter Shop; and Jared Yarter, GIS/ITS.
Service Awards
Pamela Fredrick, Budget – 20 years; Brent Kindsvater, Traffic – 20 years;
Autum Smith, Office ServicesMailroom – 20 years; John Potter, Bridge-Operations Inspection – 15 years; Bryan Kent, Patrol-Dispatch – 10 years;
Ryan Logan, Patrol-Professional Standards – 10 years; and Holly Garrison, Highway Development-Project Development – 5 years.
Retirements
Crystal “Chris” McGuire, WHP dispatch supervisor and trainer in Cheyenne, retired in September with 35 years of service. She spent her WHP career with dispatch before being promoted to dispatch trainer.
District 1
New Hires
District 2
New Hires
Brayden Allen, Chugwater Maintenance; Shane Marcum, Shirley Rim Maintenance; Brody Stoneking, Lusk Maintenance; and Tyler Warford, Wheatland Maintenance.
Dylan Meller, Laramie Maintenance; and Thomas Palmer, Cheyenne Maintenance.
Promotions and Transfers
Austin Baker, Laramie Maintenance; and Jaxon Penfield, District 1 Administration.
Service
Awards
Lorenzo Hurtado, Cheyenne TrafficStriping – 10 years; and Jared Egbert, Laramie Construction – 5 years.
District 3
New Hires
Corey Beckermann, Rock Springs Maintenance; Cache Colby, Rock Springs Maintenance; and Enrique Robles Jr., Rock Springs Construction.
Service
Awards
Todd Baxter, Patrol-Jackson/ Pinedale – 10 years; and Brandon Shriver, Pinedale Maintenance – 5 years.
Miller
Logan Kindsvater
McOmie Garrison
McGuire Smith Fredrick
Penfield
Hurtado
Allen
Stoneking
Marcum
Warford
Devon Stapel (right), with Kemmerer Maintenance, receives his 5-year service award from Area Maintenance Foreman James Dunford.
District 4
New Hires
Nicholas DeLange, Buffalo Maintenance.
Service Awards
Joshua Undeberg, Patrol-Gillette/ Sundance – 20 years.
District 5
Promotions and Transfers
Chad Shaffer, Basin Maintenance; and Aspen Thomas, Thermopolis Construction.
Service Awards
Shawn Mollett, Lovell Maintenance –20 years; and Clay Johnson, Riverton Maintenance – 15 years.
Retirements
James “Jim” Berry, highway maintenance supervisor with District 5 in Cody, retired in October with more than 25 years of service. Berry started with WYDOT in Cody maintenance and worked his way up to supervisor. He also served as the D5 chipseal foreman for at least four years. He is
a proud member of the Cody Elks Lodge, serving in leadership positions for more than a decade.
Kim Kurasz, highway maintenance foreman with District 5 in Dubois, retired in October with more than 27 years of service.
Riding for the Brand
Riding for the Brand is the new name for the Letters section
Service with a smile
Hello! I visited the Laramie Driver Services office Oct. 27. I’d like to give compliments to the two ladies working, Denise and Danielle.
There was a room full of people waiting, the system wasn’t cooperating and the phone kept ringing. They maintained a positive attitude and greeted everyone with a smile.
Dealing with the public isn’t an easy job, especially at a Driver Services location, but they handled it with grace.
Krista Carrico
Photo: WYDOT
Kim Kurasz showing off his retirement cake at his party.
Photo: WYDOT
Undeberg
DeLange
Shaffer Johnson
Berry
Halloween recap
Employees from Headquarters showed their Halloween spirit.
Families enjoying the Hot
County Trunk or treat.
polis Maintainer Bryce Gilbert took a plow to participate in the Hot Springs County Trunk or Treat on Halloween.
Photo: Carlie Dakins/WYDOT
(Top)
Springs
(Above) Thermo-
Photos: Teresa Gilbert and Bobbi Byrd/WYDOT
D4’s very own Rosie the Riveter, aka, Buffalo mechanic, Bri Moldenhauer.
Photos: Bri Moldenhauer
District 4 Construction Engineer Isaak Finkle’s son, Jonathan (center), and daughter, Emma (right), had fun with the construction theme during this year’s Buffalo Monster March.
Photos: Issac Finkle
Trick or Treaters in Buffalo enjoyed this years theme painted plow.
Photos: Issac Finkle
The Highway Safety group had a pumpkin painting team-building event.
Photo: Keri Bohlmann/WYDOT
S&L traffic control pilot car driver and her companion had fun escorting folks through the Buffalo Main Street project this fall.
Photos: WYDOT
WTDEA
HQ raffle winner!
The winner of the HQ $500 gift card was Vickie Calaway in Bridge! Congratulations. The $500 gift card raffle benefited the upcoming WTDEA Christmas Party Fund!
Outdoors
Chase Cimburek of Rock Springs shot this deer up above 10,000 feet of elevation in Western Wyoming. He walked up on the deer while trying to get in position for a shot on a bull elk. The deer was 35 yards away when shot.
Photo: Chase Cimburek
Sheridan Guardrail Foreman Brian Blakeman and his big horn ram.
Photo: Brian Blakeman
Brian Blakeman and his hunting guide, Arya, with a harvested pronghorn.
Photo: Brian Blakeman
Buffalo Foreman Andy Reimers and his bull elk.
Photo: Andy Reimers
District 4 Survey and Construction tech Justin White and his European-mounted mule deer.
Photo:
Justin White
Brian Blakeman’s son, Kolter, and his impressive bull elk.
Photo: Brian Blakeman
Jeremy Kehrer (not shown), with the Sheridan sign crew, and his sons Cheyden (left with elk) and Tristin (pronghorn) had a successful season.
Photo: Jeremy Kehrer
Photo: Jeremy Kehrer
Maintenance Foreman Rusty Speidel and his family are in their happy place when they are outdoors. This year Rusty’s daughter, Addy (left), harvested her first deer. His father, Terry (above), landed a pretty good antelope, and his son, Silas (right) tried his hand at fly fishing for carp.
Capt. Erik Jorgensen had the privilege of going hunting with a really good friend of his and his 12-year-old son, Tucker. They were able to put a long stalk on a bedded antelope buck in the rain. Tucker was able to make a clean shot on this buck for his first-ever big game animal. He did a great job and remained quiet, calm and focused as they snuck up on him from about 1,000 yards to just a little more than 100 yards. After the harvest, Tucker placed some grass in the antelope’s mouth and recited the hunter’s prayer, something his dad and grandpa taught him.
Photo: Rusty Speidel
Photo: Rusty Speidel
Sundance
Photo: Rusty Speidel
Photo: Rusty Speidel
Troy Tyree, Sheridan Port of Entry, and his daughter at the summit of Cloud Peak.
Photo: Troy Tyree
Photo: Erik Jorgensen
Sundance Foreman Rusty Speidel was fortunate to catch the Aurora Borealis (above) outside of Sundance this fall and a pretty spectacular sunset (below).
Photo: Rusty Speidel
Break Time
L R S N O W F E N C E C P B
E
Wyoming Department of Transportation
5300 Bishop Blvd.
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009-3340
Address Service Requested
