District Briefs Headquarters
Commission awards $26.6 million contract to construct new interchange off I-80 near Rock Springs
Driver Services offices in Cheyenne, Rawlins closed due to COVID-19 exposures CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) has closed the Driver Services offices in Cheyenne and Rawlins on Tuesday due to COVID-19 exposures. WYDOT is closing the offices to do a deep cleaning, conduct contact tracing and due to staffing shortages. “At this time we are taking it day by day and are looking for personnel to staff the office,” said Misty Dobson, Driver Services program manager. “We want to remind our customers that many of our services can be conducted by phone and online.” Additionally, customers in the Cheyenne area can visit the Driver Services offices in Laramie and Torrington if they need to conduct business in person. Customers in the Rawlins area can visit the Driver Services offices in Laramie or Rock Springs. WYDOT’s Driver Services offices throughout the state have implemented safety and cleaning protocols since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Driver Services employees wipe down their stations with cleaners after each transaction and have plexiglass barriers at their desks to provide separation between themselves and the customers. Examiners wipe down the vehicles used for road testing and wear masks. Applicants are also required to wear masks.
Photo: WYDOT
Continued from cover cause you to get into a crash and get injured, or worse, it can cost you your life.” In 2019, Wyoming had 921 distracted driving crashes, resulting in 12 fatalities and 354 injuries, information from WYDOT’s Highway Safety program indicated. Nationally, in 2018 there were 2,841 fatalities and about 400,000 injuries, the NHTSA indicated. The data was the latest the organization had available. To prevent distracted driving, motorists need to devote their full attention to driving and not do anything else. Proper seat belt use is another way motorists and their occupants can keep themselves safer when driving. Seat belts are important because they help keep occupants secure. Drivers and passengers who don’t wear their seat belts can risk being ejected from their vehicles if they get into a crash. Wyoming had an 83 percent proper seat-belt usage rate in 2019, information from WYDOT’s Highway Safety program indicated. Out of the fatalities for 2019, 44 percent, or 51 total, were not wearing their seat belts. Wyoming’s seat belt usage rate has remained relatively the same for the past few years with 2018 having an 84 percent proper usage rate, 2017 having an 83 percent rate, 2016 having an 84 percent rate and 2015 having an 82 percent rate. Wyoming’s numbers are below the national average of 90.7 percent. Nationally, out of 37,133 motor vehicle crash fatalities in 2017, 47 percent were not wearing their seat belts, information from the NHTSA indicated. The data was the latest NHTSA had available. Winter conditions can also contribute to crashes and injuries. Where available, WYDOT uses variable speed limit signs to slow traffic down for conditions. The department also has dynamic message signs to alert motorists of conditions or crashes ahead. Additionally, WYDOT has its 511 website that provides road and travel conditions to the public. The website also has an assortment of other travel-related features to help motorists such as the 511 app for smartphones. To learn more, visit: WYDOT Highway Safety: http://www.dot.state.wy.us/home/ dot_safety.html NHTSA: https://www.nhtsa.gov/ WYDOT’s 511 website: https://wyoroad.info/ n
CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded Reiman & High Country Construction JV Limited Partnership, of Cheyenne, the $26.6 million work in Sweetwater County. The commission awarded that and four other projects totaling $37.7 million at its recent meeting in December. For the I-80 work, crews will build the new interchange to improve traffic flow and access to businesses in the city. The Wyoming Department of Transportation is working with the city of Rock Springs on the project, which also includes replacing an overpass that was previously closed, installing a new road and widening a bridge over a creek. The contract completion date is June 30, 2023. The other contracts the commission awarded include resurfacing and bridge repairs. The commission awarded Reiman Corp., of Cheyenne, a $6 million contract for concrete slab repair, bridge work and overlay work on about 4 miles of I-80 beginning at the intersection of Curtis and Third Streets in Laramie in Albany County. Crews will make concrete repairs to the surface, make various repairs to about 10 bridges and add a high-performance overlay to the road, with the exception of the bridges, to improve the road surface. The contract completion date is Oct. 31, 2022. McGarvin-Moberly Construction Co., of Worland, won a $4.6 million contract for a resurfacing project on eight miles of Interstate 25 between Glendo and Douglas in Converse County. Crews will mill and overlay 3 inches of road and will use the old material on the median by the cable barrier. Then they will then resurface the road with 4 inches of material.
Cheyenne Driver Services office closed to deep clean due to COVID-19 exposure.
Briefs continued on page 4 January 2021
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